TrKA Kinase Inhibitors, Compositions and Methods Thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to substituted five membered heteroaryl benzamide compounds of formula (I) (Formula (I)) which are tropomyosin-related kinase (Trk) family protein kinase inhibitors, and hence are useful in the treatment of pain, inflammation, cancer, restenosis, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, thrombosis, a disease, disorder, injury, or malfunction relating to dysmyelination or demyelination or a disease or disorder associated with abnormal activities of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor TrkA.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a class of substituted five membered heteroaryl benzamide compounds, their salts, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and their use in therapy of the human body. In particular, the invention is directed to a class of substituted heteroaryl benzamide compounds, which are tropomyosin-related kinase (Trk) family protein kinase inhibitors, and hence are useful in the treatment of pain, inflammation, cancer, restenosis, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, thrombosis, a disease, disorder, injury, or malfunction relating to dysmyelination or demyelination or a disease or disorder associated with abnormal activities of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor TrkA.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trk receptors are high affinity binding protein kinase receptors that are activated by Neurotrophins (NT), a group of soluble growth factors including Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Neurotrophin 3-5 (NT 3-5). The Trk receptors consist of three family members TrkA, TrkB and TrkC that bind to and mediate the signal transduction derived from the Neurotrophins. NGF activates TrkA, BDNF and NT-4/5 activate TrkB and NT3 activates TrkC.

Inhibitors of the Trk/neutrophin pathway have been demonstrated to be highly effective in numerous pre-clinical animal models of pain. Antagonistic NGF and TrkA antibodies have been shown to be efficacious in inflammatory and neuropathic pain animal models and in human clinical trials. See Woolf, C. J. et al. (1994) Neuroscience 62, 327-331; Zahn, P. K. et al. (2004) J. Pain 5, 157-163; McMahon, S. B. et al., (1995) Nat. Med. 1, 774-780; Ma, Q. P. and Woolf, C. J. (1997) Neuroreport 8, 807-810; Shelton, D. L. et al. (2005) Pain 116, 8-16; Delafoy, L. et al. (2003) Pain 105, 489-497; Lamb, K. et al. (2003) Neurogastroenterol. Motil. 15, 355-361; and Jaggar, S. I. et al. (199) Br. J Anaesth. 83, 442-448. Through gene disruption studies in mice the TrkA-NGF interaction was found to be required for the survival of certain peripheral neuron populations involved in mediating pain signaling in the case of pancreatic cancer—an increase in the expression of TrkA was shown to correlate with an increase level of pain signaling (Zhu et al., Journal of Clinical oncology, 17:2419-2428 (1999)). Increased expression of NGF and TrkA was also observed in human osteoarthritis chondrocytes (Iannone et al, Rheumatology 41:1413-1418 (2002)). In particular, anti-TrkA antibodies and anti-NGF antibodies have been demonstrated to be effective analgesics in in vivo models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. See WO2006/131952, WO2005/061540, EP1181318 and WO01/78698, WO2004/058184 and WO2005/019266, respectively. See also WO2004/096122 and WO2006/137106 which describe the use of an anti-TrkA antibody in combination with an opioid analgesic for the treatment or prevention of pain.

Trk inhibitors that can induce apoptosis of proliferating osteoblasts may be useful in treating diseases related to an imbalance of the regulation of bone remodeling, such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and bone metastases. The expression of TrkA and TrkC receptors in the bone forming area in mouse models of bone fracture and localization of NGF in almost all bone forming cells have been observed (K. Asaumi, et al., Bone (2000) 26(6) 625-633). See also Expert Opin. Ther. Patents (2009) 19(3)), WO2006/115452 and WO2006/087538, WO6123113, WO10033941, WO10077680, WO2005110994, Investigational New Drugs (2004), 22, 449-458 and R. Tripathy, et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 2008, 18, 3551-3555. The association between overexpression, activation, amplification and/or mutation of Trk receptors and several cancers as seen with studies conduct on neuroblastoma (Brodeur, G. M., Nat. Rev. Cancer 2003, 3, 203-216), ovarian cancer (Kruettgen et al., Brain Pathology 2006, 16: 304-310), prostate cancer (Dionne et al., Clin. Cancer Res. 1998, 4(8): 1887-1898), pancreatic cancer (Dang et al., J of Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2006, 21(5): 850-858), large cell neuroendocrine tumors (Marchetti et al., Human Mutation 2008, 29(5), 609-616, and colorectal cancer (Bardelli, A., Science 2003, 300, 949) support the reasoning that therapeutic implications of an effective Trk inhibitor may extend far beyond pain therapy. See also WO2005/030128, WO2012158413, WO07013673, WO07025540, WO08052734, WO2012028579, WO2012159565, WO2012107434, WO2012003387, WO2010111653, WO2008124610, WO2004098518, EP1388341, WO2012028579, WO2008003770, WO2012161879, WO2012100223, WO2009046802, WO2009003999, WO2007042321, US2005143384, WO2009003998, WO2007069773, WO2005/030128, and US2010120862.

Also promising is the utility of Trk inhibitors in the treatment of inflammatory lung diseases such as asthma (Freund-Michel, V; et al., Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2008), 117(1), 52-76), interstitial cystitis (Hu Vivian Y; et. al., J of Urology (2005, 173(3), 1016-21), inflammatory bowel disease including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (Di Mola, F. F., et al., Gut (2000), 46(5), 670-678 and inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (Dou, Y. C., et. Al., Archives of Dermatological Research (2006), 298(1), 31-37, eczema and psoriasis (Raychaudhuri, S. P. et. al., J of Investigative Dermatology (2004), 122(3), 812-819).

Modulation of the neutrophin/Trk pathway also has been shown to have an effect in the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease (Sohrabji, et. al., Neuroendocrinology (2006), 27(4), 404-414).

Thus, the compounds of the invention, which are Trk inhibitors, are believed to be useful in the treatment of multiple types of acute and chronic pain including but not limited to inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain, and pain associated with cancer, surgery and bone fracture. The compounds may also be useful in the treatment of cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases and certain infectious diseases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to compounds of generic formula (I) below or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that are useful as a Trk kinase mediator of NGF driven biological responses, an inhibitor of TrkA as well as other Trk kinases.

The invention is further directed to methods of treating a patient (preferably a human) for diseases or disorders in which the NGF receptor Trk kinases are involved, in particular TrkA. The invention further involves use of the compounds as NGF receptor TrkA inhibitor and/or antagonist for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases associated with inhibiting TrkA, which includes pain, cancer, restenosis, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, thrombosis, or a disease, disorder, or injury relating to dysmyelination or demyelination. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions which include an effective amount of a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and the use of the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of the invention in the treatment of such diseases.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to compounds of general formula (I)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein B represents a five membered heteroaryl having at least one heteroatom that is nitrogen, said heteroaryl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a); R represents hydrogen, OH, or —C₁₋₆alkyl; R¹ and R⁵ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, CN, OH, —C₁₋₆alkyl, and halogen; R² and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, (CHR)_(n)C₆₋₁₀ aryl and (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a), R³ represents hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₄ haloalkyl, —OC₁₋₄ haloalkyl, and halogen; R^(a) is selected from the group consisting of —CN, NO₂, —C₁₋₄haloalkyl, —OC₁₋₄haloalkyl, —C₁₋₆alkyl, —C₁₋₆alkenyl, —C₁₋₆alkynyl, —(CHR)_(n)C₆₋₁₀ aryl, —(CHR)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —(CHR)_(n)C(O)(CHR)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —O—(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀ aryl, —O—(CH₂)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle —O—, —(CH₂)_(n)N(R^(d))₂, —(CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, SO₂R^(d), SO₂N(R^(d))₂, —C(O)CF₃, COR, —(CH₂)_(n)halo, —(CH₂)_(n)NHC(O)R^(d), —(CH₂)_(n)NHC(O)NHR^(d), —(CH₂)_(n)C(O)ON(R^(d))₂, —(CH₂)_(n)NHC(O)OR^(d), —(CHR)_(n)C(O)N(R^(d))₂, —OC₁₋₆alkyl, and —OH, said alkyl, aryl and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(b), wherein when two R^(d) groups are attached to a nitrogen atom they may optionally combine with that nitrogen to from a 4-8 membered heterocycle that is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(f), or two R^(a) groups when present on a ring can be linked together to form a 4-8 membered heterocycle that is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(f); R^(b) is selected from the group consisting of —C₁₋₆alkyl, —C₁₋₆alkylOR, —C₁₋₄haloalkyl, —(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, —(CH₂)_(n)N(R^(d))₂, —(CH₂)_(n)OR^(c), —O—, halogen, —CN, S(O)(NH)R^(g), —SO₂R, —SO₂N(R^(d))₂, —O—(CH₂)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —(CH₂)_(n)C(O)N(R^(d))₂, —(CH₂)_(n)NHC(O)R^(d), —C₁₋₆alkylN(R^(d))₂, and halo, said cycloalkyl and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(f), and wherein when two R^(d) groups are attached to a nitrogen atom they may combine with that nitrogen to from a 4-8 membered heterocycle that is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(f); R^(c) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —C₁₋₆alkylOR^(g), —C₁₋₄haloalkyl and —C₁₋₆alkyl R^(d) is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —C₁₋₄haloalkyl —C₁₋₆alkyl, —(CH₂)_(n)NR^(f)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, and —(CH₂)_(n)C₄₋₁₀heterocycle said alkyl, cycloalkyl and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(f);

R^(f) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —C₁₋₆ alkyl, OR^(c), CN, —N(R^(e))₂, C(O)N(R^(g))₂, C(O)C₁₋₆ alkyl, —SO₂R^(g), —O—, —C₁₋₆ alkylSO₂R^(g), —C₁₋₆ alkylOR^(g), —C₁₋₆ alkylN(R^(g))₂,

R^(g) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —C₁₋₆alkyl; and

n represents 0-6.

An embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when n is 0. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when n is 1. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when n is 2. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when n is 3.

An embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is selected from the group consisting of pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, tetrahydrocyclopentapyrazolyl, dihydropyrroloimidazolyl, oxo-tetrahydropyrazolopyridinyl, oxodihydropyrazolyl.

An embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is substituted pyrazolyl. An embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is unsubstituted pyrazolyl. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is unsubstituted or substituted oxodihydropyrazolyl. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is unsubstituted or substituted tetrahydrocyclopentapyrazolyl.

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is substituted imidazolyl. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is unsubstituted imidazolyl. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is unsubstituted or substituted pyrroloimidazolyl.

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is substituted thiazolyl. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is unsubstituted thiazolyl.

Still another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is unsubstituted or substituted triazolyl.

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is substituted oxazolyl. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is unsubstituted oxazolyl. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is substituted isoxazolyl. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is unsubstituted isoxazolyl.

Yet another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is unsubstituted or substituted thiadiazolyl. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is optionally substituted isothiadiazolyl.

Still another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when R¹ and R⁵ are both hydrogen. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when one of R¹ and R⁵ is hydrogen and the other is halogen. Still another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when R¹ and R⁵ are both halogen. Still another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when one of R¹ and R⁵ hydrogen and the other is CN, OH, or —C₁₋₆alkyl. Yet another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when one of R¹and R⁵ hydrogen and the other is —C₁₋₆alkyl. Yet another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when one of R¹and R⁵ hydrogen and the other is OH.

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, said heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a). A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when then in (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle is zero. Another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the optionally substituted heterocycle is a five or six membered ring containing one or more heteroatoms at least one of which is nitrogen. Still another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the optionally substituted heterocycle is a five membered ring containing one or more heteroatoms at least one of which is nitrogen. Still another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the optionally substituted heterocycle is a six membered ring containing one or more heteroatoms at least one of which is nitrogen. Another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of pyrazolyl, pyridyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, oxadiazolyl, and thiadiazolyl, said groups optionally substituted. Another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is optionally substituted pyrazolyl. Still another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is optionally substituted thiazolyl. Yet another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is optionally substituted pyridyl. Yet another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is optionally substituted oxadiazolyl. Yet another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is optionally substituted oxazolyl. Yet another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is optionally substituted triazolyl. Yet another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is optionally substituted pyridazinyl. Yet another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is optionally substituted pyrazinyl. Yet another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is optionally substituted thiadiazolyl. Yet another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is optionally substituted pyrimidinyl. Yet another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is optionally substituted oxodihydropyridyl. Still another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a) selected from —(CH₂)₆C₁₋₄haloalkyl, —OC₁₋₄haloalkyl, —C₁₋₆alkyl, —C(O)CF₃, —(CH₂)_(n)halo, and —OR.

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when R² and R⁴ both are hydrogen. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when R² and R⁴ both are halogen. Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is CF₃ or halogen.

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when R³ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, CF₃, OCF₃, CH₃, chlorine and fluorine. A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R³ is CF₃. Still another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R³ is OCF₃. Yet another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R³ is chlorine or fluorine.

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when R^(a) is selected from the group consisting of —(CH₂)₆C₁₋₄haloalkyl, —OC₁₋₄haloalkyl, —C₁₋₆alkyl, —(CHR)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, —(CHR)₆C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —(CHR)_(n)C(O)(CHR)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —O—(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀ aryl, —O—(CH₂)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle —O—, —(CH₂)_(n)N(R^(d))₂, —(CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —C(O)CF₃, COR, —(CH₂)_(n)halo, —(CH₂)_(n)NHC(O)R^(d), —(CH₂)_(n)NHC(O)NHR^(d), —(CHR)_(n)C(O)N(R^(d))₂, and —OR, said alkyl, aryl and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(b).

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is represented by structural formula (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), or (l):

wherein: R⁷ represents hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C(O)C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, or C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a); and R⁸ and R⁹ independently represent hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C(O)N(R)₂, (CH₂)_(n)NH(CH₂)_(n)OR, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, C(O)R, (CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀ aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a), or R⁸ and R⁹ can form a 5-8 saturated, partially saturated, or unsaturated membered ring for (a), (f), and (k), R⁷ and R⁸ can form a 5-8 membered ring for (i) and (c), R⁷ and R⁹ can form a 5-8 membered ring for (b).

An embodiment of the invention of formula I is wherein B is represented by structural formula (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), or (l): and one of R⁸ and R⁹ is selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, and C₆₋₁₀aryl and the other is selected from C₁₋₆ alkyl, C(O)N(R)₂, (CH₂)_(n)NH(CH₂)_(n)OR, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₁₀ cycloalkyl, C(O)R, (CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, and (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, said alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a). A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when for R⁸ and R⁹ the alkyl is optionally substituted methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl, the aryl is optionally substituted phenyl, and the heterocycle is optionally substituted pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, triazolyl, pyrimidinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, isothiazolyl, or thiazolyl. Still another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when the aryl or heterocycle for R⁸ and R⁹ is optionally substituted phenyl or pyrazolyl, respectively.

Still another embodiment of the invention formula I wherein B is represented by structural formula (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), or (l) is realized when R^(a) for R⁸ and R⁹ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —(CH₂)₆C₁₋₄haloalkyl, —OC₁₋₄haloalkyl, —C₁₋₆ alkyl, —(CHR)_(n)C₆₋₁₀ aryl, —(CHR)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —(CHR)_(n)C(O)(CHR)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —O—(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, —O—(CH₂)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle —O—, —(CH₂)_(n)N(R^(d))₂, —(CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —C(O)CF₃, COR, —(CH₂)_(n)halo, —(CH₂)_(n)NHC(O)R^(d), —(CH₂)_(n)NHC(O)NHR^(d), —(CHR)_(n)C(O)N(R^(d))₂, and —OR, said alkyl, aryl and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(b).

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I wherein B is represented by structural formula (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), or (l) is realized when R⁷ is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, pyrazolyl, phenyl, said methyl, ethyl, pyrazolyl and phenyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a). A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ is optionally substituted pyrazolyl. A further subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ is pyrazolyl substituted with methyl. Another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl. Still another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ is phenyl substituted with halogen. Still another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ is methyl. Yet another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ is hydrogen.

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I wherein B is represented by structural formula (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), or (l) is realized when R⁷ and R⁸ are not both phenyl at the same time.

Still another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is pyrazolyl represented by structural formula (a), (b), or (i). A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when B is represented by structural formula (a). Another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when B is represented by structural formula (b). Still another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when B is represented by structural formula (i).

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is imidazolyl represented by structural formula (c).

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is thiazolyl represented by structural formula (d), (k), and (l). A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when B is represented by structural formula (d). A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when B is represented by structural formula (k). A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when B is represented by structural formula (l).

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is triazolyl represented by structural formula (e).

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is oxazolyl represented by structural formula (f), (g), or (j). A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when B is represented by structural formula (f). A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when B is represented by structural formula (g). A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when B is represented by structural formula (j).

Another embodiment of the invention of formula I is realized when B is thiadiazolyl represented by structural formula (h).

Still another embodiment of the invention of formula I is represented by structural formula II:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁷, R⁸ and R⁹ are as originally described. A subembodiment of the invention of formula II is realized when one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is optionally substituted (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, then in (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is 0, R³ is hydrogen, CF₃, OCF₃, CH₃, chlorine or fluorine, R⁷ is C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, or C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a); and R⁸ and R⁹ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C(O)N(R)₂, (CH₂)_(n)NH(CH₂)_(n)OR, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, C(O)R, (CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, and (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a). A further embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ and R⁸ are not both phenyl at the same time.

A subembodiment of the invention of formula II is realized when R⁷ is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, or pyrazolyl. Another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ is methyl substituted pyrazolyl. Another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ is halogen substituted phenyl.

Another subembodiment of the invention of formula II is realized when R⁸ and R⁹ are independently hydrogen, or optionally substituted methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl, phenyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, triazolyl, pyrimidinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, isothiazolyl, or thiazolyl. A further embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁸ is methyl, or optionally substituted phenyl, pyrazolyl, or pyridyl and R⁹ is hydrogen, methyl, or optionally substituted phenyl, or pyridyl.

Another embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁸ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, CH₂OH, C(O)N(CH₃)₂, C(O)NHcyclopropyl, C(O)NHCH₂pyridyl, CH₂NH(CH₂)₂OH, CH₂azetidinyl, (CH₂)₀₋₁oxodihydropyridazinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrimidinyl, isothiazolyl, thiazolyl, oxodihydrotriazolyl, pyridazinonyl, pyridyl, and (CH₂)₀₋₁tetrazolyl, said pyridyl, azetidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrimidinyl, isothiazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, pyridazinonyl, and tetrazolyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(b).

Another embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁹ is hydrogen. Another embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁹ is optionally substituted phenyl.

Still another subembodiment of the invention of formula II is realized when R⁸ and R⁹ combine to form a 5-8 membered ring which is optionally substituted. An example of such 5-8 membered ring is tetrahydrocyclopentapyrazolyl.

Another embodiment of the invention of formula II is realized when one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is C₅₋₁₀heterocycle containing at least one nitrogen atom. A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention of formula II is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted oxadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, and pyrimidinyl. Still another embodiment of the invention of formula II is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of pyrazolyl, and methyl substituted pyrazolyl and R³ is CF₃.

Still another embodiment of the invention of formula I is represented by structural formula III:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁷, R⁸ and R⁹ are as originally described. A subembodiment of the invention of formula III is realized when one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is optionally substituted (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, then in (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is 0, R³ is hydrogen, CF₃, OCF₃, CH₃, chlorine, or fluorine, R⁷ is C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, or C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a); and R⁸ and R⁹ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C(O)N(R)₂, (CH₂)_(n)NH(CH₂)_(n)OR, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, C(O)R, (CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, and (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a). A further embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ and R⁸ are not both phenyl at the same time.

A subembodiment of the invention of formula III is realized when R⁷ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C(O)C₁₋₆ alkyl, or optionally substituted phenyl, or pyrazolyl. Another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ is methyl substituted pyrazolyl. Another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ is substituted phenyl.

Another subembodiment of the invention of formula III is realized when R⁸ and R⁹ are independently hydrogen, or optionally substituted methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, triazolyl, pyrimidinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, isothiazolyl, or thiazolyl. A further embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁸ is methyl, or optionally substituted phenyl, pyrazolyl, or pyridyl and R⁹ is hydrogen, methyl, or optionally substituted phenyl, or pyridyl.

Another embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁸ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, CH₂OH, C(O)N(CH₃)₂, C(O)NHcyclopropyl, C(O)NHCH₂pyridyl, CH₂NH(CH₂)₂OH, CH₂azetidinyl, (CH₂)₀₋₁oxodihydropyridazinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrimidinyl, isothiazolyl, thiazolyl, oxodihydrotriazolyl, pyridazinonyl, pyridyl, and (CH₂)₀₋₁1tetrazolyl, said pyridyl, azetidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrimidinyl, isothiazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, pyridazinonyl, and tetrazolyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(b).

Another embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁹ is hydrogen. Another embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁹ is optionally substituted phenyl.

Still another subembodiment of the invention of formula III is realized when R⁷ and R⁹ combine to form a 5-8 membered ring which is optionally substituted. An example of such 5-8 membered ring is tetrahydrocyclopentapyrazolyl.

Another embodiment of the invention of formula III is realized when one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is C₅₋₁₀heterocycle containing at least one nitrogen atom. A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention of formula III is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and optionally substituted oxadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, and pyrimidinyl. Still another embodiment of the invention of formula III is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of pyrazolyl, and methyl substituted pyrazolyl and R³ is CF₃. Still another embodiment of the invention of formula I is represented by structural formula IV:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁷, R⁸ and R⁹ are as previously described. A subembodiment of the invention of formula IV is realized when one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is optionally substituted (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, n=0, R³ is hydrogen, CF₃, OCF₃, CH₃, chlorine, or fluorine, R⁷ is C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, or C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a); and R⁸ and R⁹ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C(O)N(R)₂, (CH₂)_(n)NH(CH₂)_(n)OR, (CH₂)₁₁C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, C(O)R, (CH₂)₆C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, and (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a). A further embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ and R⁸ are not both phenyl at the same time.

A subembodiment of the invention of formula IV is realized when R⁷ is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, or optionally substituted phenyl, or pyrazolyl. Another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ is methyl substituted pyrazolyl. Another subembodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁷ is substituted phenyl.

Another subembodiment of the invention of formula IV is realized when R⁸ and R⁹ are independently hydrogen, C(O)N(R)₂, or optionally substituted methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, triazolyl, pyrimidinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, isothiazolyl, or thiazolyl. A further embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁸ is hydrogen, methyl, C(O)NH₂, or optionally substituted phenyl, pyrazolyl, or pyridyl and R⁹ is hydrogen, methyl, or optionally substituted thiazolyl, phenyl, or pyridyl. Another embodiment of this aspect of the invention is realized when R⁸ is hydrogen.

Still another subembodiment of the invention of formula IV is realized when R⁷ and R⁸ combine to form a 5-8 membered ring which is optionally substituted. An example of such ring is dihydropyrroloimidazolyl.

Another embodiment of the invention of formula IV is realized when one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is C₅₋₁₀heterocycle containing at least one nitrogen atom. A subembodiment of this aspect of the invention of formula IV is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and optionally substituted oxadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, and pyrimidinyl. Still another embodiment of the invention of formula IV is realized when the heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is selected from the group consisting of pyrazolyl, and methyl substituted pyrazolyl and R³ is CF₃.

Examples of compounds of this invention include those in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Compound LCMS Number Structure Compound Name (M + 1) 1

2-fluoro-N-(2-methyl-4- phenyl-1,3-thiazol-5-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 381.0 2

5-({[2-chloro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbonyl} amino)-N-cyclopropyl-1- phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3- carboxamide 449.0 3

N-(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H- pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(4-methyl-1,3- thiazol-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 443.0 4

6-[5-({[2-chloro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] carbonyl}amino)-1-phenyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl]pyridine-3- carboxamide 486.0 5

N-(1″,5-dimethyl-1H,1″H- 3,1′:3′,4″-terpyrazol-5′-yl)-3- (4-methyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 513.2 6

N-(5′-methyl-3-pyridin-2-yl- 1′H-1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl)-3-(4- methyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 510.0 7

N,N,5′-trimethyl-5-({[3-(1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] carbonyl}amino)-2′H-1,3′- bipyrazole-3-carboxamide 487.2 8

N-(1″,5-dimethyl-1H,1″H- 3,1′:3′,4″-terpyrazol-5′-yl)-3- pyridin-3-yl-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 493.0 9

N-[1-(3,4-difluorophenyl)-3- pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]- 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide 525.0 10

2-chloro-N-[3-(6-oxo-1,6- dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1- phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 460.0 11

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-[3-(6-oxo-1,6- dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1- phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 506.0 12

N-(1-methyl-4-phenyl-1H- imidazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 426.0 13

N-(2-methyl-4-phenyl-1H- imidazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 426.0 14

N-(1,2-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1H- imidazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 440   15

N-(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H- 1,2,4-triazol-5-yl)-3-(1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 427.0 16

N-[3-(4-methyl-5-oxo-4,5- dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3- yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]- 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide 509.0 17

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-(4-phenylisoxazol-5-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 413.2 18

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-(5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)- 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide 412.2 19

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-(4-phenyl-1,2,3-thiadiazol- 5-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 430.2 20

N-(1-methyl-3-phenyl-1H- pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 426.3 21

4-chloro-3-(4-methyl-1,3- thiazol-2-yl)-N-(1-phenyl-3- pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5- yl)benzamide 472.0 22

N-{5′-methyl-3-[2-oxo-2- (pyridin-2-ylamino)ethyl]-2′H- 1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl}-3-(1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 550.0 23

3,5-dichloro-4-methyl-N-(1- phenyl-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H- pyrazol-5-yl)benzamide 424.0 24

N-(1-phenyl-3-pyridin-4-yl- 1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1H- pyrazol-1-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 475.2 25

N-(isothiazol-5-ylmethyl)-5′- methyl-5-({[3-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] carbonyl}amino)-2′H-1,3′- bipyrazole-3-carboxamide 556.2 26

N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3- pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]- 3-(1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 511.0 27

5′-methyl-N-(1- methylazetidin-3-yl)-5-({[3- (1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] carbonyl}amino)-2′H-1,3′- bipyrazole-3-carboxamide 528.1 28

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-{3-[(6-oxo-1,6- dihydropyridazin-3- yl)methyl]-1-phenyl-1H- pyrazol-5-yl}-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 520.0 29

N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3- pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]- 3-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3- yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 509.0 30

N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3- pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]- 3-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 518.0 31

N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3- pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]- 3-(3-methylpyridin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 518.0 32

N-(2-methyl-4-phenyl-1,3- thiazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 443.0 33

N-(1-acetyl-3-phenyl-1H- pyrazol-4-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 454.0 34

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-(4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol- 3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 413.0 35

N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3- pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]- 3-pyridin-3-yl-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 504.0 36

2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(1-phenyl-3- pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)- 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide 523.0 37

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-(5-phenylisoxazol-4-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 413.0 38

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-(5-oxo-2-phenyl-2,5- dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 428.1 39

2-chloro-N-(1-phenyl-3- pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)- 5-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 509.0 40

4-chloro-3-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-N-[3-pyridin-4- yl-5′-(trifluoromethyl)-2′H- 1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl]benzamide 513.0 41

4-chloro-3-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-[3-pyridin-4-yl-5′- (trifluoromethyl)-2′H-1,3′- bipyrazol-5-yl]benzamide 499.0 42

4-chloro-N-[1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-pyridin-4-yl- 1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(1H- pyrazol-3-yl)benzamide 459.0 43

N-(1-methyl-3-phenyl-1H- pyrazol-4-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 426.1 44

N-(1′,4-dimethyl-1-phenyl- 1H,1′H-3,4′-bipyrazol-5-yl)-3- (1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 506.0 45

2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(4-phenyl-1H- pyrazol-5-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 446.1 46

2-chloro-N-(4-methyl-1- phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 460.1 47

N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3- pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]- 3-(2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridin- 4-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 520.0 48

2-chloro-N-(3,5′-dimethyl-1′H- 1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 464.0 49

2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(5-phenyl-1H- pyrazol-4-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 446.2 50

1-methyl-5-({[3-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] carbonyl}amino)-4-phenyl-1H- imidazole-2-carboxamide 469.2 51

N-[3-(hydroxymethyl)-5′- methyl-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazol-5- yl′-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3- yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 446.2 52

N-(1,2-dimethyl-4-pyridin-4- yl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-3-(1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 441.1 53

N-[1,2-dimethyl-4-(2-methyl- 1,3-thiazol-4-yl)-1H-imidazol- 5-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol- 3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 461.1 54

2-chloro-N-(3,5′-dimethyl-1′H- 1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1H- pyrazol-3-yl)benzamide 382.0 55

2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-N-[3-(6-oxo-1,6- dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1- phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 540.0 56

N-[3-(6-oxo-1,6- dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1- phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3- pyrimidin-2-yl-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 494.0 57

N-[5′-methyl-3-(6-oxo-1,6- dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1′H- 1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl]-3- pyrimidin-2-yl-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 508.0 58

2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-N-{3-[(2- methyl-2H-tetrazol-5- yl)methyl]-1-phenyl-1H- pyrazol-5-yl}-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 542.0 59

2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-N-{3-[(1- methyl-1H-tetrazol-5- yl)methyl]-1-phenyl-1H- pyrazol-5-yl}-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 542.0 60

N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3- pyrimidin-2-yl-1H-pyrazol-5- yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3- yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 508.2 61

3-(4-methyl-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)- N-(5-methyl-1H,1″H- 3,1′:3′,4″-terpyrazol-5′-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 483.0 62

2-fluoro-N-(5-phenyl-1H- pyrazol-4-yl)-5-(1H-pyrazol-3- yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 416.2 63

N-(1,2-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1H- imidazol-5-yl)-2-fluoro-5-(1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 458.2 64

2-fluoro-N-[1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-pyrimidin-2- yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-5-(1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 512.1 65

2-fluoro-N-(1-methyl-3- phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-5-(1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 444.2 66

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-[1-phenyl-3-(1H-tetrazol-1- ylmethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 494.0 67

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-[1-phenyl-3-(2H-tetrazol-2- ylmethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 494.0 68

N-(3-{[(2- hydroxyethyl)amino]methyl}- 5′-methyl-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazol- 5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol- 3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 489.0 69

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-[5′-methyl-3-(pyrrolidin-1- ylmethyl)-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazol- 5-yl]-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 499.0 70

N-[3-(6-oxo-1,6- dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1- phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-[1- (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-1H- pyrazol-3-yl]-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 574.0 71

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-[3-(6-oxo-1,6- dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1- phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4- (trifluoromethoxy)benzamide 522.0 72

N-(2-methyl-5-phenyl-1,3- thiazol-4-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 443.2 73

N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3- methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethoxy)benzamide 460.0 74

N-(1,5′-dimethyl-1H,2′H-3,3′- bipyrazol-4-yl)-3-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 430.2 75

3-(1-ethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3- methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 458.0 76

5-({[2-fluoro-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl] carbonyl}amino)-5′-methyl-N- (pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-2′H-1,3′- bipyrazole-3-carboxamide 568.3 77

N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-{[2- (2-hydroxyethyl)-2H-tetrazol- 5-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazol-5- yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3- yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 556.0 78

N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-({2- [2-(methylamino)-2-oxoethyl]- 2H-tetrazol-5-yl}methyl)-1H- pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 583.0 79

3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- N-(2-phenyl-6,7-dihydro-5H- pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazol-3-yl)- 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide 452.1 80

2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(3-((1-methyl- 1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1- phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 542.2 81

N-[3-(4-carbamoylphenyl)-1- (4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol- 5-yl]-2-fluoro-5-pyrimidin-2- yl-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 565.2 82

N-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-2,4,5,6- tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol- 3-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 470.2 83

5′-methyl-5-(3-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamido)- N-(pyrimidin-5-ylmethyl)-2′H- [1,3′-bipyrazole]-3- carboxamide 551.3 84

2-(5-(2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2- yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamido)- 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)pyrimidine-4- carboxamide 567.0 85

2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-((2-methyl- 2H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1H- pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 544.1 86

5-(2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)- 4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamido)- 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-methyl- 1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide 503.0 87

N-(3-((1H-pyrazol-1- yl)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)- 1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2-fluoro-5- (pyrimidin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 526.1 88

N-(3-(azetidine-1-carbonyl)-1- (4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol- 5-yl)-2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2- yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 529.1 89

2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-((5-oxo-4,5- dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2- yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)- 5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 560.0 90

N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((1- methyl-1H-pyrazol-4- yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)- 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide 524.1 91

N-(3-((2-aminopyrimidin-5- yl)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)- 1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 537.1 92

N-(3-((5-amino-1,3,4- oxadiazol-2-yl)methyl)-1-(4- fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5- yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3- yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 527.1 93

2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-(2- hydroxyethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5- yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 490.1 94

N-(3-((5-aminopyrazin-2- yl)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)- 1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 537.1 95

N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3- (pyrimidin-5-ylmethyl)-1H- pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 522.1 96

N-(3-((1H-pyrazol-3- yl)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)- 1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 510.1 97

2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3- (hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrazol- 5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 476.3 98

N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((2- oxo-1,2-dihydropyridin-3- yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)- 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide 537.1 99

(S or R)-2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-(1- hydroxyethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5- yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 490.0 100

(S or R)-2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-(5-(1- hydroxyethyl)pyridin-2-yl)- 1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5- (pyrimidin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 567.1 101

2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-(4-(2- hydroxyethyl)phenyl)-1H pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2- yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 566.2 102

2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-((1-methyl- 1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1H- pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 544.1 103

N-(3-(3- (aminomethyl)phenyl)-1-(4- fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5- yl)-2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2- yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 551.1 104

2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-((1-methyl- 1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1H- pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2- yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 542.1 105

2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-((6-oxo-1,6- dihydropyridazin-3- yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)- 5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)- 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide 556.1 106

2-fluoro-N-(2-(1-(2- hydroxyethyl)-1H-pyrazol-4- yl)-4-phenylthiazol-5-yl)-5- (pyrimidin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 555.2 107

(S or R)-2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-(5-(1- hydroxyethyl)pyrimidin-2-yl)- 1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 570.2 108

2-fluoro-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(6-oxo-2- phenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H- pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-3-yl)- 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide 499.2 109

2-fluoro-N-(1-(2- hydroxyethyl)-3-phenyl-1H- pyrazol-4-yl)-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 474.1 110

(5-(2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2- yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamido)- 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)methyl carbamate 519.2 111

N-(3-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-1- (4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol- 5-yl)-2-fluoro-5-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 505.1 112

N-(3-((2,5-dioxoimidazolidin- 1-yl)methyl)-1-(4- fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5- yl)-2-fluoro-5-(1-methyl-1H- pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 560.1 113

2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-((5-oxo-4,5- dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2- yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)- 5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 544.0 114

2-fluoro-N-(1-(4- fluorophenyl)-3-(2- (methylamino)-2-oxoethyl)- 1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1-methyl- 1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzamide 519.1 or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof

The invention is also directed to methods of treating a patient (preferably a human) for diseases or disorders in which the TrkA receptor is involved, such as pain, inflammation, cancer, restenosis, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, thrombosis, a disease, disorder, injury, or malfunction relating to dysmyelination or demyelination or a disease or disorder associated with abnormal activities of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor TrkA, by administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention is also directed to the use of a compound of the invention for treating a disease or disorder in which the TrkA receptor is involved, such as pain, inflammation, cancer, restenosis, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, thrombosis, a disease, disorder, injury, or malfunction relating to dysmyelination or demyelination or a disease or disorder associated with abnormal activities of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor TrkA, by administering to the patient a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

The invention is also directed to medicaments or pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of diseases or disorders in a patient (preferably a human) in which the TrkA receptor is involved, such as pain, inflammation, cancer, restenosis, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, thrombosis, a disease, disorder, injury, or malfunction relating to dysmyelination or demyelination or a disease or disorder associated with abnormal activities of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor TrkA, which comprise a compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The invention is also directed to a method for the manufacture of a medicament or a pharmaceutical composition for treating diseases in which TrkA receptor is involved, such as pain, inflammation, cancer, restenosis, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, thrombosis, a disease, disorder, injury, or malfunction relating to dysmyelination or demyelination or a disease or disorder associated with abnormal activities of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor TrkA comprising combining a compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Where a variable occurs more than once in any formula of the invention, or in a substituent thereof, the individual occurrences of that variable are independent of each other, unless otherwise specified. Also, combinations of substituents/or variables are permissible only if such combinations result in stable compounds.

As used herein, the term “alkyl,” by itself or as part of another substituent, means a saturated straight or branched chain hydrocarbon radical having the number of carbon atoms designated (e.g., C₁₋₁₀ alkyl means an alkyl group having from one to ten carbon atoms). Preferred alkyl groups for use in the invention are C₁₋₆ alkyl groups, having from one to six atoms. Exemplary alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, and the like. C₀ alkyl means a bond.

As used herein, the term “alkenyl,” by itself or as part of another substituent, means a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon radical having a single carbon-carbon double bond and the number of carbon atoms designated (e.g., C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl means an alkenyl group having from two to ten carbon atoms). Preferred alkenyl groups for use in the invention are C₂₋₆ alkenyl groups, having from two to six carbon atoms. Exemplary alkenyl groups include ethenyl and propenyl.

As used herein, the term “cycloalkyl,” by itself or as part of another substituent, means a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon radical having the number of carbon atoms designated (e.g., C₃₋₁₂ cycloalkyl means a cycloalkyl group having from three to twelve carbon atoms). The term cycloalkyl as used herein includes mono-, bi- and tricyclic saturated carbocycles, spirocycles, and bridged and fused ring carbocycles as well as oxo substituted cycloalkyl groups.

Preferred cycloalkyl groups for use in the invention are monocyclic C₃₋₈ cycloalkyl groups, having from three to eight carbon atoms. Exemplary monocyclic cycloalkyl groups include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl and the like. Exemplary bridged cycloalkyl groups include adamantyl and norbornyl. Exemplary fused cycloalkyl groups include decahydronaphthalene.

The term “heteroatom” means O, S or N, selected on an independent basis.

As used herein, the term “aryl,” by itself or as part of another substituent, means an aromatic cyclic hydrocarbon radical. Preferred aryl groups have from six to ten carbons atoms. The term “aryl” includes multiple ring systems as well as single ring systems. Preferred aryl groups for use in the invention include phenyl and naphthyl.

The term “aryl” also includes fused cyclic hydrocarbon rings which are partially aromatic (i.e., one of the fused rings is aromatic and the other is non-aromatic). An exemplary aryl group which is partially aromatic is indanyl.

The term heterocyclyl, heterocycle or heterocyclic, as used herein, represents a stable 5- to 7-membered monocyclic or stable 8- to 11-membered bicyclic heterocyclic ring which is either saturated or unsaturated, and which consists of carbon atoms and from one to four heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S, and including any bicyclic group in which any of the above-defined heterocyclic rings is fused to a benzene ring. The heterocyclic ring may be attached at any heteroatom or carbon atom which results in the creation of a stable structure. The term heterocyclyl, heterocycle or heterocyclic includes heteroaryl moieties. Examples of such heterocyclic elements include, but are not limited to, azepinyl, benzodioxolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzisoxazolyl, benzofurazanyl, benzopyranyl, benzothiopyranyl, benzofuryl, benzothiazolyl, benzothienyl, benzotriazolyly, benzoxazolyl, chromanyl, cinnolinyl, dihydrobenzofuryl, dihydrobenzothienyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl, dihydrobenzothiopyranyl sulfone, 1,3-dioxolanyl, furyl, imidazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolyl, indolinyl, indolyl, isochromanyl, isoindolinyl, isoquinolinyl, isothiazolidinyl, isothiazolyl, isothiazolidinyl, morpholinyl, naphthyridinyl, oxadiazolyl, 2-oxoazepinyl, oxazolyl, 2-oxopiperazinyl, 2-oxopiperdinyl, 2-oxopyrrolidinyl, piperidyl, piperazinyl, pyridyl, pyrazinyl, pyrazolidinyl, pyrazolyl, pyrazolopyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolyl, quinazolinyl, quinolinyl, quinoxalinyl, tetrahydrofuryl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, thiamorpholinyl, thiamorpholinyl sulfoxide, thiazolyl, thiazolinyl, thienofuryl, thienothienyl, thienyl, triazolyl, N-oxides and —C═O derivatives thereof.

The term “heteroaryl”, as used herein except where noted, represents a stable 5- to 7-membered monocyclic- or stable 9- to 10-membered fused bicyclic heterocyclic ring system which contains an aromatic ring, any ring of which may be saturated, such as piperidinyl, partially saturated, or unsaturated, such as pyridinyl, and which consists of carbon atoms and from one to four heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S, and wherein the nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms may optionally be oxidized, and the nitrogen heteroatom may optionally be quaternized, and including any bicyclic group in which any of the above-defined heterocyclic rings is fused to a benzene ring. The heterocyclic ring may be attached at any heteroatom or carbon atom which results in the creation of a stable structure. Examples of such heteroaryl groups include, but are not limited to, benzimidazole, benzisothiazole, benzisoxazole, benzofuran, benzothiazole, benzothiophene, benzotriazole, benzoxazole, carboline, cinnoline, furan, furazan, imidazole, indazole, indole, indolizine, isoquinoline, isothiazole, isoxazole, naphthyridine, oxadiazole, oxazole, phthalazine, pteridine, purine, pyran, pyrazine, pyrazole, pyridazine, pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrrole, quinazoline, quinoline, quinoxaline, tetrazole, thiadiazole, thiazole, thiophene, triazine, triazole, N-oxides thereof and —C═O derivatives thereof. Suitable heteroaryl groups are imidazopyridinyl, indazolyl, imidazothiazolyl, imidazopyrimidinyl, imidazopyridazinyl, imidazothiadiazolyl, quinoxalinyl, and imidazopyrrolyl. When a heterocyclyl group as defined herein is substituted, the substituent may be bonded to a ring carbon atom of the heteroaryl group, or on a ring heteroatom (i.e., a nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur), which has a valence which permits substitution. Preferably, the substituent is bonded to a ring carbon atom. Similarly, when a heteroaryl group is defined as a substituent herein, the point of attachment may be at a ring carbon atom of the heteroaryl group, or on a ring heteroatom (i.e., a nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur), which has a valence which permits attachment. Preferably, the attachment is at a ring carbon atom.

As used herein, the term “halo” or “halogen” includes fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo.

As used herein —O— includes oxo (e.g., an annular —CH— substituted with oxo is —C(O) or carbonyl.

The compounds of the invention may have one or more asymmetric centers. Compounds with asymmetric centers give rise to enantiomers (optical isomers), diastereomers (configurational isomers) or both, and it is intended that all of the possible enantiomers and diastereomers in mixtures and as pure or partially purified compounds are included within the scope of this invention. The present invention is meant to encompass all such isomeric forms of the compounds of the invention. The present invention includes all stereoisomers of formulae (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof

The independent syntheses of the enantiomerically or diastereomerically enriched compounds, or their chromatographic separations, may be achieved as known in the art by appropriate modification of the methodology disclosed herein. Their absolute stereochemistry may be determined by the x-ray crystallography of crystalline products or crystalline intermediates that are derivatized, if necessary, with a reagent containing an asymmetric center of known absolute configuration.

If desired, racemic mixtures of the compounds may be separated so that the individual enantiomers or diastereomers are isolated. The separation can be carried out by methods well known in the art, such as the coupling of a racemic mixture of compounds to an enantiomerically pure compound to form a diastereomeric mixture, followed by separation of the individual diastereomers by standard methods, such as fractional crystallization or chromatography. The coupling reaction is often the formation of salts using an enantiomerically pure acid or base. The diastereomeric derivatives may then be converted to the pure enantiomers by cleavage of the added chiral residue. The racemic mixture of the compounds can also be separated directly by chromatographic methods using chiral stationary phases, which methods are well known in the art.

Alternatively, any enantiomer or diastereomer of a compound may be obtained by stereoselective synthesis using optically pure starting materials or reagents of known configuration by methods well known in the art.

In the compounds of the invention the atoms may exhibit their natural isotopic abundances, or one or more of the atoms may be artificially enriched in a particular isotope having the same atomic number, but an atomic mass or mass number different from the atomic mass or mass number predominantly found in nature. The present invention is meant to include all suitable isotopic variations of the compounds of generic formulae (I). For example, different isotopic forms of hydrogen (H) include protium (¹H) and deuterium (²H). Protium is the predominant hydrogen isotope found in nature. Enriching for deuterium may afford certain therapeutic advantages, such as increasing in vivo half-life or reducing dosage requirements, or may provide a compound useful as a standard for characterization of biological samples. Isotopically-enriched compounds within generic formulae (I) can be prepared without undue experimentation by conventional techniques well known to those skilled in the art or by processes analogous to those described in the Schemes and Examples herein using appropriate isotopically-enriched reagents and/or intermediates.

The term “substantially pure” means that the isolated material is at least 90% pure, and preferably 95% pure, and even more preferably 99% pure as assayed by analytical techniques known in the art.

As used herein, the term TrkA refers to one of Trk high affinity binding protein kinase receptors that are activated by Neurotrophins (NT), a group of soluble growth factors Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Neurotrophin 3-5 (NT 3-5). The Trk receptors are made up of three family members TrkA, TrkB and TrkC that bind to and mediate the signal transduction derived from the Neurotrophins. Inhibitors of the Trk/neutrophin pathway have been demonstrated to be highly effective in numerous pre-clinical animal models of pain. The compounds of the invention are modulators of the Trk receptors, particularly TrkA.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to salts prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic bases or acids including inorganic or organic bases and inorganic or organic acids. The compounds of the invention may be mono, di or tris salts, depending on the number of acid functionalities present in the free base form of the compound. Free bases and salts derived from inorganic bases include aluminum, ammonium, calcium, copper, ferric, ferrous, lithium, magnesium, manganic salts, manganous, potassium, sodium, zinc, and the like.

Salts in the solid form may exist in more than one crystal structure, and may also be in the form of hydrates. Salts derived from pharmaceutically acceptable organic non-toxic bases include salts of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, substituted amines including naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines, and basic ion exchange resins, such as arginine, betaine, caffeine, choline, N,N′-dibenzylethylene-diamine, diethylamine, 2-diethylaminoethanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-ethylmorpholine, N-ethylpiperidine, glucamine, glucosamine, histidine, hydrabamine, isopropylamine, lysine, methylglucamine, morpholine, piperazine, piperidine, polyamine resins, procaine, purines, theobromine, triethylamine, trimethylamine, tripropylamine, tromethamine, and the like.

When the compound of the present invention is basic, salts may be prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acids, including inorganic and organic acids. Such acids include acetic, trifluoroacetic, benzenesulfonic, benzoic, camphorsulfonic, citric, ethanesulfonic, fumaric, gluconic, glutamic, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, isethionic, lactic, maleic, malic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, mucic, nitric, pamoic, pantothenic, phosphoric, succinic, sulfuric, tartaric, para-toluenesulfonic acid, and the like.

The present invention is directed to the use of the compounds of formulae (I) disclosed herein as TrkA inhibitors in a patient or subject such as a mammal in need of such activity, comprising the administration of an effective amount of the compound. In addition to humans, a variety of other mammals can be treated according to the method of the present invention.

The compounds of the present invention have utility in treating or ameliorating pain disorders (including pain associated with cancer, surgery, and bone fracture, acute pain, inflammatory pain and neuropathic pain). The compounds of formula I are also useful for treating cancers including neuroblastoma, ovarian, pancreatic and colorectal cancer. Other conditions that may be treated by the compounds of the invention include inflammation and certain infectious diseases, interstitial cystitis, painful bladder syndrome, urinary incontinence, asthma, anorexia, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis. Treatment of demyelination and dysmyelination, by promoting myelination, neuronal survival, and oligodendrocyte differentiation via blocking Sp35-TrkA interaction may also be possible with the compounds of the present invention.

The compounds of formula I may also be useful in the treatment of bone-related diseases (e.g., those involved in bone resorption). Examples of bone-related diseases include metastatic bone disease, treatment-induce bone loss, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Paget's disease, and periodontal disease. Another bone disorder or disease that can be treated with the compounds of the claimed invention is metastatic tumor-induced osteolysis. Cancers known to cause tumor induced osteolysis are hematological malignancies such as myeloma and lymphoma and solid tumors such as breast, prostate, lung, renal and thyroid.

Pain disorders for which the compounds of the invention may be useful include neuropathic pain (such as postherpetic neuralgia, nerve injury, the “dynias”, e.g., vulvodynia, phantom limb pain, root avulsions, painful diabetic neuropathy, painful traumatic mononeuropathy, painful polyneuropathy); central pain syndromes (potentially caused by virtually any lesion at any level of the nervous system); postsurgical pain syndromes (eg, postmastectomy syndrome, postthoracotomy syndrome, stump pain); bone and joint pain (osteoarthritis), repetitive motion pain, dental pain, cancer pain, myofascial pain (muscular injury, fibromyalgia); perioperative pain (general surgery, gynecological), chronic pain, dysmennorhea, as well as pain associated with angina, and inflammatory pain of varied origins (e.g. osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic disease, teno-synovitis and gout), headache, migraine and cluster headache, headache, primary hyperalgesia, secondary hyperalgesia, primary allodynia, secondary allodynia, or other pain caused by central sensitization.

Compounds of the invention may also be used to treat or prevent dyskinesias. Furthermore, compounds of the invention may be used to decrease tolerance and/or dependence to opioid treatment of pain, and for treatment of withdrawal syndrome of e.g., alcohol, opioids, and cocaine.

The subject or patient to whom the compounds of the present invention is administered is generally mammals such a human being, male or female, in whom Trk-A and/or Trk-B modulation is desired. Thus, an aspect of the present invention is a method of treating diseases with an inhibitor of TrkA and/or TrkB comprising administering to said mammal one or more compounds of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount effective to treat or prevent said disorder. In a particular aspect of the invention is directed to a method of treating pain, cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative disease or Typanosoma cruzi infection by administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Still another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method of treating osteolytic disease in a mammal by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. For purposes of this invention mammals include dogs, cats, mice, rats, cattle, horses, sheep, rabbits, monkeys, chimpanzees or other apes or primates, for which treatment of the above noted disorders is desired.

The compounds of the present invention may be used in combination with one or more other drugs in the treatment of diseases or conditions for which the compounds of the present invention have utility, where the combination of the drugs together are safer or more effective than either drug alone. Additionally, the compounds of the present invention may be used in combination with one or more other drugs that treat, prevent, control, ameliorate, or reduce the risk of side effects or toxicity of the compounds of the present invention. Such other drugs may be administered, by a route and in an amount commonly used therefor, contemporaneously or sequentially with the compounds of the present invention. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include those that contain one or more other active ingredients, in addition to the compounds of the present invention. The combinations may be administered as part of a unit dosage form combination product, or as a kit or treatment protocol wherein one or more additional drugs are administered in separate dosage forms as part of a treatment regimen.

Examples of combinations of the compounds include combinations with agents for the treatment of pain, for example steroids such as dexamethasone, cortisone, and fluticasone, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, such as aspirin, diclofenac, duflunisal, fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, naproxen, oxaprozin, piroxicam, sulindac and tolmetin; COX-2 inhibitors, such as celecoxib, rofecoxib and valdecoxib; CB-2 agonists; VR-1 antagonists; bradykinin B 1 receptor antagonists; sodium channel blockers and antagonists; nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors (including iNOS and nNOS inhibitors); glycine site antagonists, including lacosamide; neuronal nicotinic agonists; NMDA antagonists; potassium channel openers; AMPA/kainate receptor antagonists; calcium channel blockers, such as ziconotide; GABA-A receptor IO modulators (e.g., a GABA-A receptor agonist); matrix metalloprotease (MMP) inhibitors; thrombolytic agents; chemotherapeutic agents, opioid analgesics such as codeine, fentanyl, hydromorphone, levorphanol, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, pentazocine, propoxyphene; neutrophil inhibitory factor (NIF); pramipexole, ropinirole; anticholinergics; amantadine; monoamine oxidase B15 (“MAO-B”) inhibitors; 5HT receptor agonists or antagonists; mGlu5 antagonists; alpha agonists; neuronal nicotinic agonists; NMDA receptor agonists or antagonists; NKI antagonists; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (“SSRI”) and/or selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (“SSNRI”), such as duloxetine; tricyclic antidepressant drugs, norepinephrine modulators; lithium; valproate; gabapentin; pregabalin; rizatriptan; zolmitriptan; naratriptan and sumatriptan.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. Still another aspect of the present invention is directed to a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use in the treatment of a condition treatable with an inhibitor of TrkA and/or TrkB, such as the disorders, conditions and/or diseases described herein. Still another aspect is directed to use of a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in the treatment of pain, cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative disease or typanosoma cruzi infection.

The term “composition” as used herein is intended to encompass a product comprising specified ingredients in predetermined amounts or proportions, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination of the specified ingredients in the specified amounts. This term in relation to pharmaceutical compositions is intended to encompass a product comprising one or more active ingredients, and an optional carrier comprising inert ingredients, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination, complexation or aggregation of any two or more of the ingredients, or from dissociation of one or more of the ingredients, or from other types of reactions or interactions of one or more of the ingredients.

In general, pharmaceutical compositions are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing the active ingredient into association with a liquid carrier or a finely divided solid carrier or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product into the desired formulation. In the pharmaceutical composition the active compound, which is a compound of formulae (I), is included in an amount sufficient to produce the desired effect upon the process or condition of diseases. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention encompass any composition made by admixing a compound of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The carrier may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration, e.g., oral or parenteral (including intravenous). Thus, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be presented as discrete units suitable for oral administration such as capsules, cachets or tablets each containing a predetermined amount of the active ingredient. Further, the compositions can be presented as a powder, as granules, as a solution, as a suspension in an aqueous liquid, as a non-aqueous liquid, as an oil-in-water emulsion or as a water-in-oil liquid emulsion. In addition to the common dosage forms set out above, the compounds of the invention, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, may also be administered by controlled release means and/or delivery devices.

Pharmaceutical compositions intended for oral use may be prepared according to any method known to the art for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions and such compositions may contain one or more agents selected from the group consisting of sweetening agents, flavoring agents, coloring agents and preserving agents in order to provide pharmaceutically elegant and palatable preparations. Tablets may contain the active ingredient in admixture with non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable excipients which are suitable for the manufacture of tablets. These excipients may be, for example, inert diluents, such as calcium carbonate, sodium carbonate, lactose, calcium phosphate or sodium phosphate; granulating and disintegrating agents, for example, corn starch, or alginic acid; binding agents, for example starch, gelatin or acacia, and lubricating agents, for example magnesium stearate, stearic acid or talc. The tablets may be uncoated or they may be coated by known techniques to delay disintegration and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby provide a sustained action over a longer period.

A tablet containing the composition of this invention may be prepared by compression or molding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients or adjuvants. Compressed tablets may be prepared by compressing, in a suitable machine, the active ingredient in a free-flowing form such as powder or granules, optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent, surface active or dispersing agent. Molded tablets may be made by molding in a suitable machine, a mixture of the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent. Each tablet preferably contains from about 0.1 mg to about 500 mg of the active ingredient and each cachet or capsule preferably containing from about 0.1 mg to about 500 mg of the active ingredient.

Compositions for oral use may also be presented as hard gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with an inert solid diluent, for example, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate or kaolin, or as soft gelatin capsules wherein the active ingredient is mixed with water or an oil medium, for example peanut oil, liquid paraffin, or olive oil.

Other pharmaceutical compositions include aqueous suspensions, which contain the active materials in admixture with excipients suitable for the manufacture of aqueous suspensions. In addition, oily suspensions may be formulated by suspending the active ingredient in a vegetable oil, for example arachis oil, olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil, or in a mineral oil such as liquid paraffin. Oily suspensions may also contain various excipients. The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may also be in the form of oil-in-water emulsions, which may also contain excipients such as sweetening and flavoring agents.

The pharmaceutical compositions may be in the form of a sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspension, or in the form of sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of such sterile injectable solutions or dispersions. In all cases, the final injectable form must be sterile and must be effectively fluid for easy syringeability. The pharmaceutical compositions must be stable under the conditions of manufacture and storage; thus, preferably should be preserved against the contaminating action of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be in a form suitable for topical use such as, for example, an aerosol, cream, ointment, lotion, dusting powder, or the like. Further, the compositions can be in a form suitable for use in transdermal devices. These formulations may be prepared via conventional processing methods. As an example, a cream or ointment is prepared by mixing hydrophilic material and water, together with about 5 wt % to about 10 wt % of the compound, to produce a cream or ointment having a desired consistency.

Pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can also be in a form suitable for rectal administration wherein the carrier is a solid. It is preferable that the mixture forms unit dose suppositories. Suitable carriers include cocoa butter and other materials commonly used in the art.

By “pharmaceutically acceptable” it is meant the carrier, diluent or excipient must be compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not deleterious to the recipient thereof

The terms “administration of” or “administering a” compound should be understood to mean providing a compound of the invention to the individual in need of treatment in a form that can be introduced into that individual's body in a therapeutically useful form and therapeutically useful amount, including, but not limited to: oral dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, syrups, suspensions, and the like; injectable dosage forms, such as IV, IM, or IP, and the like; transdermal dosage forms, including creams, jellies, powders, or patches; buccal dosage forms; inhalation powders, sprays, suspensions, and the like; and rectal suppositories.

The terms “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount” means the amount of the subject compound that will elicit the biological or medical response of a tissue, system, animal or human that is being sought by the researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician.

As used herein, the term “treatment” or “treating” means any administration of a compound of the present invention and includes (1) inhibiting the disease in an animal that is experiencing or displaying the pathology or symptomatology of the diseased (i.e., arresting further development of the pathology and/or symptomatology), or (2) ameliorating the disease in an animal that is experiencing or displaying the pathology or symptomatology of the diseased (i.e., reversing the pathology and/or symptomatology).

The compositions containing compounds of the present invention may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by any of the methods well known in the art of pharmacy. The term “unit dosage form” is taken to mean a single dose wherein all active and inactive ingredients are combined in a suitable system, such that the patient or person administering the drug to the patient can open a single container or package with the entire dose contained therein, and does not have to mix any components together from two or more containers or packages. Typical examples of unit dosage forms are tablets or capsules for oral administration, single dose vials for injection, or suppositories for rectal administration. This list of unit dosage forms is not intended to be limiting in any way, but merely to represent typical examples of unit dosage forms.

The compositions containing compounds of the present invention may conveniently be presented as a kit, whereby two or more components, which may be active or inactive ingredients, carriers, diluents, and the like, are provided with instructions for preparation of the actual dosage form by the patient or person administering the drug to the patient. Such kits may be provided with all necessary materials and ingredients contained therein, or they may contain instructions for using or making materials or components that must be obtained independently by the patient or person administering the drug to the patient.

When treating or ameliorating a disorder or disease for which compounds of the present invention are indicated, generally satisfactory results are obtained when the compounds of the present invention are administered at a daily dosage of from about 0.1 mg to about 100 mg per kg of animal body weight, preferably given as a single daily dose or in divided doses two to six times a day, or in sustained release form. The total daily dosage is from about 1.0 mg to about 2000 mg, preferably from about 0.1 mg to about 20 mg per kg of body weight. In the case of a 70 kg adult human, the total daily dose will generally be from about 7 mg to about 1,400 mg. This dosage regimen may be adjusted to provide the optimal therapeutic response. The compounds may be administered on a regimen of 1 to 4 times per day, preferably once or twice per day.

The amount of active ingredient that may be combined with the carrier materials to produce a single dosage form will vary depending upon the host treated and the particular mode of administration. For example, a formulation intended for the oral administration to humans may conveniently contain from about 0.005 mg to about 2.5 g of active agent, compounded with an appropriate and convenient amount of carrier material. Unit dosage forms will generally contain between from about 0.005 mg to about 1000 mg of the active ingredient, typically 0.005, 0.01 mg, 0.05 mg, 0.25 mg, 1 mg, 5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 300 mg, 400 mg, 500 mg, 600 mg, 800 mg or 1000 mg, administered once, twice or three times a day.

It will be understood, however, that the specific dose level and frequency of dosage for any particular patient may be varied and will depend upon a variety of factors including the activity of the specific compound employed, the metabolic stability and length of action of that compound, the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, mode and time of administration, rate of excretion, drug combination, the severity of the particular condition, and the host undergoing therapy.

Several methods for preparing the compounds of this invention are illustrated in the following Schemes and Examples. Starting materials and the requisite intermediates are in some cases commercially available, or can be prepared according to literature procedures or as illustrated herein.

The compounds of this invention may be prepared by employing reactions as shown in the following schemes, in addition to other standard manipulations that are known in the literature or exemplified in the experimental procedures. Substituent numbering as shown in the schemes does not necessarily correlate to that used in the claims and often, for clarity, a single substituent is shown attached to the compound where multiple substituents are allowed under the definitions hereinabove. Reactions used to generate the compounds of this invention are prepared by employing reactions as shown in the schemes and examples herein, in addition to other standard manipulations such as ester hydrolysis, cleavage of protecting groups, etc., as may be known in the literature or exemplified in the experimental procedures.

During any of the synthetic sequences it may be necessary or desirable to protect sensitive or reactive groups on any of the molecules concerned. This may be achieved by means of conventional protecting groups, such as those described in Protective Groups in Organic Chemistry, ed. J. F. W. McOmie, Plenum Press, 1973, and T. W. Greene & P/G. M. Wuts, Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis, John Wiley & Sons, 1999. The protecting groups may be removed at a convenient sequent stage using methods known from the art.

In some cases the final product may be further modified, for example, by manipulation of substituents. These manipulations may include, but are not limited to, reduction, oxidation, alkylation, acylation, and hydrolysis reactions which are commonly known to those skilled in the art. In some cases the order of carrying out the foregoing reaction schemes may be varied to facilitate the reaction or to avoid unwanted reaction products. The following examples are provided so that the invention might be more fully understood. These examples are illustrative only and should not be construed as limiting the invention in any way.

The following abbreviations are used throughout the text:

-   Me: methyl -   Et: ethyl -   Bu: butyl -   t-Bu: tert-butyl -   Ar: aryl -   Ph: phenyl -   Bn: benzyl -   Ac: acetyl -   DMF.DMA: N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal -   DMSO: dimethylsulfoxide -   DMF: N,N-dimethylformamide -   THF: tetrahydrofuran -   TEA: triethylamine -   aq: aqueous -   HPLC: high performance liquid chromatography -   MS: mass spectrometry -   CDI: 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole -   DCE: 1,2-dichloroethane -   HCl: hydrochloric acid -   ° C.: degrees Celsius -   BINAP: 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthalene -   ATP: adenosine triphosphate -   i-Pr: isopropyl -   Py: pyridyl -   OAc: acetate -   TFA: trifluoroacetic acid -   TFAA: trifluoroacetic anhydride -   Boc: tert-butoxycarbonyl -   Boc₂O: di-tert-butyl dicarbonate -   BOP: (benzotriazol-1-yloxy)tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium     hexafluorophosphate -   DEA: diethylamine -   DIEA: N,N-diisopropylethylamine -   DIPEA: N,N-diisopropylethylamine -   HOBT: 1-hydroxybenzotriazole -   EDC: N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride -   EDCI: N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride -   PyCLU: chlorodipyrrolidinocarbenium -   n-BuLi: n-butyllithium -   HATU: O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-N,N,N′N′-tetramethyluronium     hexafluorophosphate -   EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid -   HMDS: hexamethyldisilazane -   min: minutes -   h: hours -   HPLC: high performance liquid chromatography -   LCMS: liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry -   SFC: supercritical fluid chromatography -   TLC: thin layer chromatography -   NMP: 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone -   MTBE: methyl tert-butyl ether -   DMA: N,N-dimethylacetamide -   NBS: N-bromosuccinimide -   CAN: ammonium cerium(IV) nitrate -   dppf: 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene -   dtbpf: 1,1′-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)ferrocene -   dba: dibenzylideneacetone -   DMAP: 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine -   PMBCl: 4-methoxybenzyl chloride -   DIBAL: diisobutylaluminum hydride -   DAST: (diethylamino)sulfur trifluoride -   DBU: 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene -   AIBN: 2-2′-azobisisobutyronitrile -   m-CPBA: 3-chloroperbenzoic acid -   DABCO: diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane -   LDA: lithium diisopropylamide -   HOAt: 1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole -   LAH: lithium aluminum hydride -   AOP: 7-(azabenzotriazol-1-yloxy)tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium     hexafluorophosphate -   PyAOP: 7-(azabenzotriazol-1-yloxy)tripyrrolidinophosphonium     hexafluorophosphate -   DCM: dichloromethane -   PE: petroleum ether -   TMS: trimethylsilyl -   Conc: concentrated -   TIPS: triisopropylsilyl -   OTf: trifluoromethanesulfonate -   bis-pin: 4,4,4′,4′,5,5,5′,5′-octamethyl-2,2′-bi(1,3,2-dioxaborolane) -   NCS: N-chlorosuccinimide -   DPPA: diphenylphosphoryl azide -   PCC: pyridinium chlorochromate -   DME: 1,2-dimethoxyethane -   PMB: 4-methoxybenzyl -   NMO: 4-methylmorpholine N-oxide -   PyBop: benzotriazol-1-yl-oxytripyrrolidinophosphonium     hexafluorophosphate -   PS: polystyrene

Reaction Schemes

The compounds of the present invention can be prepared readily according to the following Schemes and specific examples, or modifications thereof, using readily available starting materials, reagents and conventional synthetic procedures. In these reactions, it is also possible to make use of variants which are themselves known to those of ordinary skill in this art but are not mentioned in greater detail. The general procedures for making the compounds claimed in this invention can be readily understood and appreciated by one skilled in the art from viewing the following Schemes.

Scheme 1 illustrates the general strategy for preparing the compounds of the present invention in which an carboxylic acid intermediate (1.1) may be activated (for example, via treatment with POCl₃, (COCl)₂, or SOCl₂ to generate the acid chloride) followed by coupling to an amine (1.2) to give the desired product amide 1.3. Various carboxylic acid intermediates, such as those described herein (vide infra), may be coupled to a variety of amines to give the compounds of the present invention. There are many known strategies for effecting such coupling chemistry, including use of coupling reagents, such as EDC with HOBT, PyBOP, HATU, AOP, PyAOP, CDI and the like.

In some cases, various protecting group strategies familiar to one skilled in the art of organic synthesis may be employed to allow preparation of a particular compound of the present invention. This general approach may be successful for the preparation of a range of amide moieties, utilizing a variety of acids and amine intermediates.

Reaction Schemes 2 through 5 illustrate the preparation of the intermediate amines of the type 1.2 which are used to prepare compounds of the invention as described above.

Reaction Scheme 2 illustrates the preparation of the intermediate amines 2.3 which are used to prepare compounds of the invention. Hydrazine 2.1 is heated with cyano amine 2.2 in the presence of an acid to afford amine 2.3.

Reaction Scheme 3 illustrates the preparation of the intermediate amines of the type 3.4 which are used to prepare compounds of the invention. Acetonitrile is acylated by ester 3.1 in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide to afford cyano ketone 3.2. Conversion to amine 3.4 is then effected by heating of hydrazine 3.3 with cyano ketone 3.2.

Reaction Scheme 4 illustrates the preparation of the intermediate amines of the type 4.3 which are used to prepare compounds of the invention. Hydrazine 4.1 is heated in the presence of malonitrile to afford amine 4.2. Hydrolysis of the nitrile groups to the carboxylic acids occurs with treatment of aqueous sodium hydroxide at reflux, followed by in-situ decarboxylation affords amino acid 4.3.

Reaction Scheme 5 illustrates the preparation of the intermediate amines of the type 5.3 which are used to prepare compounds of the invention. Acetonitrile is acylated by oxalate 5.1 in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide to afford cyano ester 5.2. Conversion to amine 5.3 is then effected by heating of hydrazine 3.3 with cyano ester 5.2 in ethanol.

Reaction Scheme 6 illustrates the preparation of the intermediate acids of the type 6.5 which are used to prepare compounds of the invention. Bromide 6.1 is converted to the boronate ester with bis-pin in the presence of a suitable catalyst and base system to afford 6.2. Cross-coupling of the ester 6.2 with a suitable aryl or heteroaryl bromide (6.3) is mediated by heating in an aqueous solvent system in the presence of a suitable catalyst and base (e.g., Pd(dppf)Cl₂ and Na₂CO₃ in aqueous DMF) to furnish ester 6.4. Hydrolysis of the ester under basic conditions then affords acid 6.5.

Reaction Scheme 7 illustrates the preparation of the intermediate acids of the type 7.6 which are used to prepare compounds of the invention Amine 7.1 is treated with NCS to afford chloride 7.2, which is then converted to bromide 7.3 by exposure to t-butylnitrite and copper bromide. Cross-coupling of bromide 7.3 with an aryl or heteroboronic ester 7.4 (or other suitable intermediate) is mediated by heating in an aqueous solvent system in the presence of a suitable catalyst and base (e.g., Pd(dppf)Cl₂ and Na₂CO₃ in aqueous DMF) to furnish ester 7.5. Hydrolysis of the ester under basic conditions then affords acid 7.6.

Reaction Scheme 8 depicts the synthesis of intermediates acids of the type 8.4. Bromination of 8.1 followed by cross coupling of 8.2 and with an aryl or heteroboronic ester 8.3 (or other suitable intermediate) is mediated by heating in an aqueous solvent system in the presence of a suitable catalyst and base (e.g., Pd(dtbpf)Cl₂ and K₃PO₄ in aqueous toluene) to furnish 8.4.

Reaction Scheme 9 illustrates the preparation of intermediate amines of the type 9.6 and 9.7. Heating ester 9.1 with hydrazine provides acyl hydrazide 9.2, which can be transformed to 9.3 with Lawesson's reagent. Intermediates 9.2 and 9.3 can then be cyclized to oxadiazolinone 9.4 and thiadiazolinone 9.5, respectively, by treatment with CDI. Removal of the Boc groups with HCl provides amine intermediates 9.6 and 9.7.

Reaction Scheme 10 depicts the preparation of amide compounds of the type 10.4. Saponification of ester 10.1 furnishes carboxylic acid intermediate 10.2 which can undergo coupling with amine 10.3 under a variety conditions (e.g., EDC with HOBT, PyBOP, HATU, AOP or PyAOP) to provides amide 10.4.

Reaction Scheme 11 illustrates the synthesis of compounds of the type 11.4 and 11.5. Ester 11.1 is reduced with LAH to provide alcohol 11.2 which is subsequently converted to bromide 11.3 using carbon tetrabromide and triphenylphosphine. Bromide 11.3 can undergo an alkylation reaction with an amine or NH-containing heterocycle in the presence of base to afford 11.4. Alternatively, bromide 11.3 can be cross-coupled with a heterocyclic boronic acid or ester under palladium catalysis to provide 11.5.

Reaction Scheme 12 depicts the preparation of methylated tetrazoles 12.3 and 12.4. Nitrile 12.1 is cyclized with sodium azide to provide tetrazole 12.2. Deprotonation of 12.2 with sodium hydride followed by the addition of iodomethane affords 12.3 and 12.4 as a separable mixture.

Specific embodiments of the compounds of the invention, and methods of making them, are described in the Examples herein.

Reaction Scheme for Intermediate A1

Intermediate A1

3-Methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine

A mixture of 3-aminobut-2-enenitrile (5.0 g, 61 mmol) and phenylhydrazine (7.3 g, 68 mmol) in aqueous HCl solution (1 N, 150 mL) was heated at reflux for 16 h. The resulting mixture was cooled to 23° C. and basified to pH 9 with the addition of solid Na₂CO₃. The precipitate was filtered and dried to give the desired title compound. MS: m/z=174 (M+1).

Reaction Scheme for Intermediate A2

Intermediate A2

1-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine

A mixture of t-BuOK (6.8 g, 0.060 mol) and acetonitrile (3.2 mL, 0.060 mol) in anhydrous THF (100 mL) was stirred at 0° C. for 0.5 h. Methyl isonicotinate (6.8 g, 0.050 mol) was added dropwise at 0° C., and the resulting mixture was warmed to 25° C. and stirred for 3 h. The reaction mixture was filtered. The filter cake was dissolved in EtOH (30 mL) and (4-fluorophenyl)hydrazine hydrochloride (8.1 g, 0.050 mol) was added. The resulting mixture was then heated at 80° C. for 3 h, then cooled and concentrated. The residue was partitioned between water (100 mL) and EtOAc (50 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (50 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was washed with MTBE (30 mL) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=255.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.59-8.58 (m, 2H), 7.70-7.62 (m, 4H) 7.38-7.30 (m, 2H), 6.00 (m, 1H), 5.60-5.52 (m, 2H).

Intermediate A3

1″,5-Dimethyl-1H,1″H-[3,1′:3′,4″-terpyrazol]-5′-amine Step A: 5-Hydrazinyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole

A solution of NaNO₂(5.7 g, 0.082 mol) in water (30 mL) was added dropwise to a solution of 3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (8.0 g, 0.082 mol) in aqueous HCl solution (6 M, 50 mL) at −10° C. The reaction was stirred at −10° C. for 1 h before a solution of SnCl₂ (31.3 g, 0.164 mol) in aqueous HCl solution (6 M, 50 mL) was then added dropwise. The reaction mixture was warmed to 25° C. and stirred for 16 h. The mixture was concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=113 (M+1).

Step B: Ethyl 1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate

Sodium hydride (60% dispersion in mineral oil, 0.84 g, 0.021 mol) was added to a solution of ethyl 1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate (2.0 g, 0.014 mol) in DMF (10 mL) at 0° C., and the resulting mixture was stirred for 30 min. MeI (0.96 mL, 0.015 mol) was added dropwise and stirring was continued at 0° C. for 1 h. The excess sodium hydride was quenched by the addition of cold aqueous HCl solution (30 mL, 1M), and the resulting mixture was partitioned between water and EtOAc (30 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=155 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.92-7.88 (m, 1H), 7.86 (s, 1H), 4.33-4.24 (m, 2H), 3.93 (s, 3H), 1.34 (s, 3H).

Step C: 1″,5-Dimethyl-1H,1″H-[3,1′:3′,4″-terpyrazol]-5′-amine

A mixture of NaH (60% dispersion in mineral oil, 0.68 g, 0.017 mol) and ethyl 1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate (2.1 g, 0.014 mol) in anhydrous THF (20 mL) was heated at 80° C. for 0.5 h. Acetonitrile (0.88 mL, 0.016 mol) was then added dropwise, and the resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was cooled, then partitioned between water (20 mL) and EtOAc (30 mL). The layers were separated and 5-hydrazinyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole (from Step A) was added to the aqueous layer. The mixture was then basified to pH 7 by the addition of aqueous NaOH solution (2 M), and the resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 3 h. The resulting mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was extracted with EtOAc (20 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was recrystallized from MTBE/MeOH=10:1 (11 mL) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=244 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 12.39 (m, 1H), 7.92 (m, 1H), 7.63 (m, 1H), 6.10 (m, 3H), 5.50 (m, 1H), 3.83 (s, 3H), 2.25 (s, 3H).

Intermediate A4

1-Phenyl-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine

A mixture of t-BuOK (4.91 g, 44.0 mmol) and acetonitrile (2.19 mL, 40.0 mmol) in anhydrous THF (80 mL) was stirred at 0° C. for 0.5 h. Methyl isonicotinate (5.00 g, 36.5 mmol) was added dropwise at 0° C., and the resulting mixture was warmed to 25° C. and stirred for 3 h. The mixture was filtered and the filter cake was dissolved in EtOH (30 mL). Phenylhydrazine (3.95 g, 36.5 mmol) was added, and the resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 3 h. The mixture was cooled and concentrated, and the residue was partitioned between water (100 mL) and EtOAc (50 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (50 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was suspended in MTBE (30 mL), filtered and dried to give the title compound. MS (ESI): m/z=237 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.55 (d, J=5.6 Hz, 2H), 7.71 (d, J=5.6 Hz, 2H), 7.64 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.51 (s, 2H), 7.33-7.41 (m, 1H), 6.04 (s, 1H), 5.57 (br s, 2H).

Intermediate A5

6-(5-Amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridazin-3(2H)-one Step A: Methyl 6-chloropyridazine-3-carboxylate

Oxalyl chloride (21.3 mL, 252 mmol) was added to a solution of 6-chloropyridazine-3-carboxylic acid (20.0 g, 126 mmol) in DCM (500 mL) at 25° C., and the resulting mixture was stirred for 1 h, then concentrated. A solution of triethylamine (17.5 mL, 126 mmol) in MeOH (500 mL) was added to the residue, and the mixture was stirred for 30 min. The product mixture was concentrated and residue was partitioned between EtOAc (500 mL) and water (100 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was suspended in MTBE, filtered and dried to give the title compound. MS: m/z=173 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.17 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 7.68 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 4.09 (s, 3H).

Step B: Methyl 6-methoxypyridazine-3-carboxylate

A mixture of NaH (4.30 g, 108 mmol) in MeOH (500 mL) was stirred at 25° C. for 30 min. Methyl 6-chloropyridazine-3-carboxylate (18.6 g, 108 mmol) was added, and the resulting mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 1 h, then filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was suspended in petroleum ether, filtered and dried to give the title compound. MS: m/z=169 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.07 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 7.06 (d, J=9.3 Hz, 1H), 4.23 (s, 3H), 4.04 (s, 3H).

Step C: 3-(6-Methoxypyridazin-3-yl)-3-oxopropanenitrile

A mixture of t-BuOK (13.6 g, 121 mmol) and MeCN (5.80 mL g, 111 mmol) in THF (500 mL) was stirred at 25° C. for 30 min. Methyl 6-methoxypyridazine-3-carboxylate (17.0 g, 101 mmol) was added, and the resulting mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 1 h, then concentrated. The residue was suspended in DCM and then filtered. The filtered solid was dissolved in water and the resulting mixture was acidified to pH 7 with aqueous HCl solution (1 M), then extracted with EtOAc (500 mL×3). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=2:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=178 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.10 (d, J=9.3 Hz, 1H), 7.14 (d, J=9.3 Hz, 1H), 4.49 (s, 2H), 4.26 (s, 3H).

Step D: 3-(6-Methoxypyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine

A mixture of 3-(6-methoxypyridazin-3-yl)-3-oxopropanenitrile (3.9 g, 22 mmol) and phenylhydrazine (2.4 g, 22 mmol) in EtOH (100 mL) was heated at reflux for 12 h. The mixture was cooled and concentrated. The residue was partitioned between water and EtOAc (150 mL×2), and the combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=2:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=268 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.13 (d, J=9.0 Hz, 1H), 7.64 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.52 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.44-7.36 (m, 1H), 6.99 (d, J=9.3 Hz, 1H), 6.46 (s, 1H), 4.17 (s, 3H), 3.93 (br s, 2H).

Step E: 6-(5-Amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridazin-3(2H)-one

A solution of 3-(6-methoxypyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (1.8 g, 6.7 mmol) in aqueous HCl (12 M, 50 mL) was heated at 100° C. for 12 h. After cooling, the mixture was neutralized with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ solution and then extracted with EtOAc (300 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was suspended in MTBE, filtered and dried to give the title compound. MS: m/z=254 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.92 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 7.64 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.52 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.42-7.34 (m, 1H), 6.92 (d, J=10.0 Hz, 1H), 5.88 (s, 1H), 5.57 (s, 2H).

Reaction Scheme for Intermediate A6

Intermediate A6

Methyl 2-(5-amino-5′-methyl-2′H-[1,3′-bipyrazol]-3-yl)acetate Step A: 5-Hydrazinyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole

A solution of NaNO₂ (5.7 g, 0.082 mol) in water (30 mL) was added dropwise to a solution of 3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (8.0 g, 0.082 mol) in aqueous HCl solution (6 M, 50 mL) at −10° C., and the resulting mixture was stirred at −10° C. for 1 h. A solution of SnCl₂ (31.3 g, 0.164 mol) in aqueous HCl solution (6 M, 50 mL) was then added dropwise to this mixture, keeping the internal temperature at −10° C. The resulting mixture was warmed to 25° C. and stirred for 16 h. The mixture was concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=113 (M+1).

Step B: 5-Amino-3-(cyanomethyl)-5′-methyl-2′H-[1,3′-bipyrazole]-4-carbonitrile

Aqueous NaOH solution (6 M) was added to 5-hydrazinyl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole (ca 0.082 mol) until pH ˜9 was reached. Malononitrile (10.8 g, 0.164 mol) was then added and the resulting mixture was heated at 70° C. for 5 h. After cooling, the mixture was extracted with EtOAc (50 mL×3) and the combined organic layers were washed with brine (50 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, and concentrated. The residue was re-crystallized from MTBE/MeOH=10:1 (22 mL) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=228 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 12.75 (s, 1H), 7.48 (s, 2H), 6.18 (s, 1H), 4.10 (s, 2H), 2.28 (s, 3H).

Step C: Methyl 2-(5-amino-5′-methyl-2′H-[1,3′-bipyrazol]-3-yl)acetate

A solution of 5-amino-3-(cyanomethyl)-5′-methyl-2′H-[1,3′-bipyrazole]-4-carbonitrile (2.00 g, 8.81 mmol) in aqueous NaOH (20 M, 30 mL) was heated at reflux for 16 h. After cooling, solid NH₄Cl (40 g, 0.74 mol) was added and the resulting mixture was concentrated. The residue was dissolved in MeOH (40 mL) and then stirred for 30 min. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. Thionyl chloride (1.91 mL, 26.2 mmol) was added dropwise to a solution of the residue in MeOH (20 mL) at 0° C. The resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 2 h. After cooling, the mixture was concentrated and the residue was partitioned between EtOAc (30 mL) and a saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (20 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (PE:EtOAc=10:1 to 3:1), to give the title compound. MS: m/z=222 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 6.29 (s, 1H), 5.50 (s, 1H), 5.24 (s, 2H), 3.71 (s, 3H), 3.62 (s, 2H), 2.29 (s, 3H).

Reaction Scheme for Intermediate A7

Intermediate A7

2-(5-Amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)acetonitrile Step A: 5-Amino-3-(cyanomethyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile

A solution of phenylhydrazine (54 g, 0.50 mol) and malononitrile (65.4 g, 1.00 mol) in EtOH (300 mL) was heated at reflux for 16 h. After cooling to 25° C., the precipitate was filtered, washed with EtOH, and dried to afford the title compound. The filtrate was concentrated, and water (50 mL) was added slowly to a solution of the residue in EtOH (50 mL) at 25° C. with stirring to precipitate additional title compound. MS: m/z=224 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.60-7.37 (m, 5H), 6.86 (s, 1H), 4.07 (s, 2H).

Step B: 2-(5-Amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)acetic acid

A solution of NaOH (90 g, 2.3 mol) in water (150 mL) was added slowly to a mixture of 5-amino-3-(cyanomethyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile (56 g, 0.25 mol) in water (150 mL), and the resulting mixture was heated at 120° C. for 12 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to 25° C. and solid NH₄Cl (120 g, 2.26 mol) was added. The resulting mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 30 min, then concentrated. The residue was stirred in MeOH (300 mL) for 30 min, then filtered. The filter cake was washed with MeOH (100 mL×2), and the combined filtrate was concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=218 (M+1).

Step C: Methyl 2-(5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)acetate

SOCl₂ (200 mL, 1.64 mol) was added dropwise to a solution of 2-(5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)acetic acid (70 g, 0.25 mol) in MeOH (500 mL) at 0° C., and the resulting mixture was heated at reflux for 8 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to 25° C. and concentrated. The residue was partitioned between EtOAc (300 mL) and a saturated aqueous Na₂CO₃ solution. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography (PE: EtOAc=2:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=232 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 3.51 (s, 2H) 3.61 (s, 3H) 5.34 (s, 2H) 5.44 (s, 1H) 7.32-7.25 (m, 1H) 7.45 (t, J=7.9 Hz, 1H) 7.56 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H).

Step D: 2-(5-Amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)acetamide

A mixture of methyl 2-(5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)acetate (10 g, 17 mmol) and aqueous NH₄OH solution (25% in water, 200 mL) was stirred at 25° C. for 12 h. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (100 mL×3), and the combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=217 (M+1).

Step E: 2-(5-Amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)acetonitrile

A solution of 2-(5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)acetamide (5.0 g, 23 mmol) in POCl₃ (36 mL) was heated at 60° C. for 2 d. The mixture was cooled and concentrated. The residue was carefully partitioned between DCM (100 mL×3) and saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (200 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=5:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=199 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.57-7.51 (m, 2H), 7.47 (t, J=7.9 Hz, 2H), 7.34-7.28 (m, 1H), 5.47 (s, 3H), 3.84 (s, 2H).

Reaction Scheme for Intermediate A8

Intermediate A8

Ethyl 5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate Step A: Potassium (Z)-1-cyano-3-ethoxy-3-oxoprop-1-en-2-olate

Diethyl oxalate (46 mL, g, 0.34 mol) was added dropwise to a mixture of t-BuOK (55 g, 0.48 mol) in anhydrous THF (500 mL) at 0° C. The resulting mixture was heated at 60° C. before MeCN (25 mL g, 0.48 mol) was added. The mixture was heated at reflux for 30 min, then cooled to 25° C. The precipitate was filtered and dried to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=142 (M+1).

Step B: Ethyl 5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate

A mixture of phenylhydrazine (38 g, 0.35 mol) and potassium (Z)-1-cyano-3-ethoxy-3-oxoprop-1-en-2-olate (50 g, 0.35 mol) in EtOH (800 mL) was acidified to pH 6 by the addition of aqueous HCl solution, and the resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 1 h. The mixture was cooled to 25° C., basified to pH 8 by the addition of aqueous K₂CO₃ solution, and then concentrated. The residue was partitioned between EtOAc (300 mL) and water. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=1:1) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=232 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.64-7.57 (m, 2H), 7.54 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.46-7.38 (m, 1H), 5.91 (s, 1H), 5.57 (s, 2H), 4.25 (q, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 1.28 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 3H).

Reaction Scheme for Intermediate A9

Intermediate A9

6-((5-Amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl)pyridazin-3(2H)-one Step A: Di-tert-butyl (3-(cyanomethyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl) carbamate

A mixture of DMAP (678 mg, 5.55 mmol), Boc₂O (1.29 mL, 5.55 mmol) and 2-(5-amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)acetonitrile (600 mg, 2.78 mmol) in DCM (10 mL) was stirred at 15° C. for 1 h, then concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative TLC (petroleum ether: EtOAc=3:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=417.2 (M+1).

Step B: Di-tert-butyl (3-((6-chloropyridazin-3-yl)(cyano)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)carbamate

Solid KHMDS (479 mg, 2.40 mmol) was added to a solution of di-tert-butyl (3-(cyanomethyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)carbamate (400 mg, 0.961 mmol) and 3,6-dichloropyridazine (215 mg, 1.44 mmol) in THF (5 mL) at 13° C., and the resulting mixture was stirred at this temperature for 1 h. The product mixture was partitioned between water (10 mL) and EtOAc (3×20 mL). The combined organic layers was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give the title compound.

Step C: 6-((5-Amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl)pyridazin-3 (2H)-one

A mixture of di-tert-butyl (3-((6-chloropyridazin-3-yl)(cyano)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)carbamate (100 mg, 0.189 mmol) in HBr (48 wt %, 10 mL) was heated at 100° C. for 12 h, then cooled and concentrated. The residue was partitioned between DCM and water (10 mL). The aqueous layer was basified with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ solution and extracted with DCM (3×10 mL). The combined organic layers was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative TLC (petroleum ether: EtOAc=1:2) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=286.0 (M+1).

Reaction Scheme for Intermediate A10

Intermediate A10

5-((5-Amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2(3H)-one Step A: tert-Butyl (1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-hydrazinyl-2-oxoethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)carbamate

A solution of ethyl 2-(5-((tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)acetate (700 mg, 2.00 mmol) and hydrazine (96 mg, 3.0 mmol) in EtOH (10 mL) was heated at 80° C. for 4 h. The product mixture was cooled and concentrated, and the residue was purified by preparative TLC (petroleum ether/EtOAc) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=350.0 (M+1).

Step B: tert-Butyl (1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-hydrazinyl-2-thioxoethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)carbamate

A solution of tert-butyl (1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-hydrazinyl-2-oxoethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)carbamate (700 mg, 2.00 mmol) and Lawesson's reagent (486 mg, 1.20 mmol) in toluene (10 mL) was heated at 90° C. for 3 h. The product mixture was partitioned between water (10 mL) and EtOAc (10 mL×3). The combined organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative TLC (EtOAc: MeOH=20:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=366.1 (M+1).

Step C: tert-Butyl (1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)carbamate

To a solution of tert-butyl (1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-hydrazinyl-2-thioxoethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)carbamate (100 mg, 0.274 mmol) in THF (3 mL) was added CDI (89 mg, 0.55 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 20° C. for 2 h, then concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative TLC (EtOAc) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=392.0 (M+1).

Step D: 5-((5-Amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2(3H)-one

A solution of tert-butyl (1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)carbamate (50 mg, 0.13 mmol) in EtOAc (2 mL) was treated with 4 M HCl in EtOAc (5 mL, 20 mmol), and the resulting mixture was stirred at 20° C. for 1 h. The product mixture was concentrated to afford the title compound as an HCl salt. MS: m/z=292.0 (M+1).

Reaction Scheme for Intermediate A11

Intermediate A11

3-(((tert-Butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine Step A: (5-Amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methanol

A solution of LAH in THF (2 M, 2.00 mL, 4.00 mmol) was added to a solution of ethyl 5-amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (2.00 g, 4.01 mmol) in THF (10 mL) at 0° C., and the resulting mixture was stirred for 30 min. Excess LAH was carefully quenched with the sequential addition of water (0.03 mL), aqueous 15% NaOH solution (0.090 mL) and water (0.03 mL). The product mixture was diluted with EtOAc (50 mL) and filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated to provide the title compound.

Step B: 3-(((tert-Butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine

A mixture of (5-amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methanol (700 mg, 3.38 mmol), TBSCl (611 mg, 4.05 mmol), and imidazole (690 mg, 10.1 mmol) in DMF (5 mL) was stirred for 16 h. Additional TB SCl (611 mg, 4.05 mmol) was added and stirring was continued for 60 h. The product mixture was partitioned between water (100 mL) and EtOAc (100 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (hexanes, grading to 50% EtOAc in hexanes) to provide the title compound. MS: m/z=322.3 (M+1).

Reaction Scheme for Intermediate B1

Intermediate B1

2-Fluoro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid Step A: 5-Bromo-2-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

N-Bromosuccinimide (23.1 g, 130 mmol) was added portionwise to a mixture of 2-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (15.0 g, 72.1 mmol), sulfuric acid (9.0 mL, 170 mmol, 18 M), and TFA (50.0 mL, 650 mmol) at 50° C. and the resulting mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. Additional N-bromosuccinimide (3.0 g, 16 mmol) was added and the mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 4 h. The reaction mixture was cooled and water (150 mL) was added. The resulting precipitate was collected and dried to give the title compound. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 9.90 (s, 1H), 8.35 (d, J=6.3 Hz, 1H), 7.55 (d, J=10.3 Hz, 1H).

Step B: 2-Fluoro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

To a deoxygenated mixture of 5-bromo-2-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (5.0 g, 17 mmol), 1-(methyl)-3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole (4.35 g, 20.9 mmol) and K₃PO₄ (11.1 g, 52.3 mmol) in toluene (55 mL) and H₂O (7 mL) was added 1,1′-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)ferrocene palladium dichloride (1.14 g, 1.74 mmol). The resulting mixture was heated at 90° C. for 2 h, and then stirred at 50° C. for 18 h. The mixture was cooled and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was partitioned between water (200 mL) and EtOAc (300 mL). The aqueous layer was acidified to pH 5 with aqueous HCl solution (1 N) and the resulting precipitate was collected and dried to give the title compound. MS: m/z=289 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 13.85 (s, 1H), 8.11 (d, 1H), 7.82 (m, 2H), 6.45 (s, 1H), 3.92 (s, 3H).

The following intermediate was prepared in similar fashion to the procedure described above.

Compound LCMS Number Structure Compound Name (M + 1) B2

2-fluoro-5-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid 275.5

Intermediate B3

3-Bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid Step A: Methyl 3-bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

t-BuONO (79.0 g, 765 mmol) was added to a solution of methyl 3-amino-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (67.0 g, 306 mmol) and CuBr (88.0 g, 612 mmol) in MeCN (1000 mL) at 0° C., and the resulting mixture was warmed to 25° C. and stirred for 12 h. The mixture was then poured into EtOAc (600 mL) and filtered. The filtrate was washed with an aqueous HCl solution (1 M, 200 mL×3), then brine (200 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EA=200:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=283, 285 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.37 (s, 1H), 8.06 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.77 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 3.97 (s, 3H).

Step B: 3-Bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

A mixture of methyl 3-bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (5.0 g, 17.7 mmol) in aqueous NaOH solution (1 M, 100 mL) was stirred at 25° C. for 12 h. The mixture was acidified to pH 6 with aqueous HCl solution (1 M), and the resulting aqueous mixture was extracted with EtOAc (30 mL×3). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and then concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=270 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.44 (s, 1H), 8.14 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.83 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H).

Reaction Scheme for Intermediate B4

Intermediate B4

3-(Pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl chloride Step A: Methyl 3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

To a deoxygenated mixture of methyl 3-bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (20.0 g, 70.7 mmol), 4,4,4′,4′,5,5,5′,5′-octamethyl-2,2′-bi(1,3,2-dioxaborolane) (26.9 g, 106 mmol) and potassium acetate (20.8 g, 212 mmol) in dioxane (300 mL) was added PdCl₂(dppf) (2.59 g, 3.50 mmol), and the resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 5 h. The mixture was cooled and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was partitioned between water (100 mL) and EtOAc (200 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine (100 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=15:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=331 (M+1).

Step B: Methyl 3-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

To a deoxygenated mixture of methyl 3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (12.0 g, 36.4 mmol), 2-bromopyrimidine (8.67 g, 54.5 mmol) and sodium carbonate (11.6 g, 109 mmol) in DMF (450 mL) and water (60 mL) was added PdCl₂(dppf) (1.3 g, 1.8 mmol), and the resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 5 h. The mixture was cooled and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was partitioned between water (100 mL) and EtOAc (200 mL). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (100 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=5:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=283 (M+1).

Step C: 3-(Pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

A mixture of methyl 3-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (7.0 g, 25 mmol) and NaOH (3.0 g, 74 mmol) in a 3:1 mixture of MeOH and H₂O (120 mL) was heated at 30° C. for 16 h. The reaction mixture was cooled and then partitioned between water (30 mL) and MTBE (2×60 mL). The aqueous layer was acidified to pH 4 with aqueous HCl solution (2 N). The precipitate was filtered, washed with water and dried to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=269 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.92 (d, J=5.0 Hz, 1H), 8.30 (m, 2H), 7.97 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.55 (t, J=4.9 Hz, 1H).

The following intermediates were prepared in similar fashion to the procedure described above.

Compound LCMS Number Structure Compound Name (M + 1) B5

2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid 301.1 B6

2-chloro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid 303.1 B7

2-chloro-5-(4-methylpyrimidin-2- yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid 317.1

Reaction Scheme for Intermediate B8

Intermediate B8

2-Chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid Step A: Methyl 5-amino-2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

N-Chlorosuccinimide (8.2 g, 61 mmol) was added to a solution of methyl 3-amino-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (13.2 g, 60.0 mmol) in acetonitrile (200 mL), and the resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 20 h. After cooling, the mixture was partitioned between water (500 mL) and EtOAc (2×300 mL). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (200 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=6:1) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=254 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.49 (s, 1H), 7.17 (s, 1H), 3.92 (s, 3H).

Step B: Methyl 5-bromo-2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

t-Butyl nitrite (4.60 g, 44.5 mmol) and methyl 5-amino-2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (4.50 g, 17.8 mmol) were added portionwise to a suspension of copper(I) bromide (5.10 g, 35.6 mmol) in DCM (100 mL). The resulting mixture was heated at 60° C. for 2 h. After cooling, the mixture was diluted with water (50 mL) and aqueous HCl solution (2 M, 50 mL) and then extracted with EtOAc (80 mL×2). The combined organic layers were washed with water (100 mL), then brine (80 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography on silica (PE:EtOAc from 50:1 to 30:1) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=319 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.15 (s, 1H), 7.77 (s, 1H), 3.97 (s, 3H).

Step C: Methyl-2-chloro-5-(1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

To a deoxygenated mixture of methyl 5-bromo-2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (4.6 g, 14 mmol), 1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole (4.86 g, 17.5 mmol) and Na₂CO₃ (4.0 g, 44 mmol) in DMF (150 mL) and H₂O (24 mL) was added Pd(PPh₃)₄ (686 mg, 0.58 mmol). The resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 5 h, then cooled and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was partitioned between water (200 mL) and EtOAc (300 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine (100 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE/EtOAc=10/1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=389 (M+1).

Step D: Methyl 2-chloro-5-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

A solution of methyl-2-chloro-5-(1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (2.5 g, 6.4 mmol) in a solution of HCl in MeOH (4M, 50 mL) was stirred at 15° C. for 1 h and then concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=305 (M+1).

Step E: 2-Chloro-5-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

A solution of NaOH (1.2 g, 0.030 mol) in H₂O (15 mL) was added to a solution of methyl 2-chloro-5-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (2.3 g, 7.6 mmol) in MeOH (45 mL), and the resulting mixture was stirred at 15° C. for 16 h. The majority of the MeOH was removed under reduced pressure and the remaining aqueous mixture was partitioned between MTBE (50 mL) and water (50 mL). The aqueous layer was acidified to pH 5 with aqueous HCl solution (3 N). The precipitate was filtered, washed with water (50 mL×2) and dried to give the title compound. MS: m/z=291 (M+1).

Step F: Methyl 2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate and methyl 2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

A mixture of 2-chloro-5-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (500 mg, 1.72 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (1.7 g, 5.2 mmol) and iodomethane (0.54 mL, 8.6 mmol) in DMF (15 mL) was heated at 80° C. for 2 h. The reaction mixture was cooled and filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was partitioned between water (50 mL) and EtOAc (30 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with H₂O (50 mL×3), then brine (50 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=319 (M+1).

Step G: 2-Chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

A solution of NaOH (414 mg, 10.4 mmol) in H₂O (5 mL) was added to a mixture of methyl 2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate and methyl 2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (550 mg, 3.5 mmol) in MeOH (15 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred at 15° C. for 16 h. The majority of the MeOH was removed under reduced pressure and the resulting aqueous solution was partitioned between MTBE (30 mL) and water (30 mL). The aqueous layer was acidified to pH 4 with an aqueous HCl solution (3 N). The resulting suspension was then extracted with EtOAc (50 mL×2). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (50 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was re-crystallized from MeOH (1 g/5 mL) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=305 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.36 (s, 1H), 7.86 (s, 1H), 7.48 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 6.59 (s, 1H), 4.15 (s, 3H).

The following intermediates were prepared in similar fashion using the corresponding tributylstannane reagent in the palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reaction.

Compound LCMS Number Structure Compound Name (M + 1) B9

2-chloro-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid 302 B10

2-fluoro-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid 286.0

Intermediate B11

3-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid Step A: 4-Bromo-3-nitrobenzoic acid

4-Bromobenzoic acid (100 g, 0.5 mol) was added portionwise to aqueous HNO₃ solution (16 M, 200 mL), keeping the temperature between 0 and 25° C., followed by the dropwise addition of aqueous H₂SO₄ solution (18 M, 240 mL) at ambient temperature. The resulting mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 4 h, and then carefully diluted with 1.5 L of water. The precipitate was filtered, washed with water, and dried to give the title compound. MS: m/z=246.0, 248.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) δ 8.42 (s, 1H), 8.04 (s, 2H).

Step B: Methyl 4-bromo-3-nitrobenzoate

To a solution of 4-bromo-3-nitrobenzoic acid (115 g, 47.0 mmol) in MeOH (600 mL) was added aqueous H₂SO₄ solution (18 M, 200 mL) at ambient temperature. The mixture was heated at reflux for 2 h, and then cooled and filtered. The filtered solid was washed with water and dried to give the title compound. MS: m/z=260, 262 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.48 (s, 3H), 8.09 (s, 2H), 3.91 (s, 3H).

Step C: Methyl 3-nitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

To a solution of methyl 4-bromo-3-nitrobenzoate (175 g, 0.670 mol) in anhydrous DMF (1.0 L) was added CuI (140 g, 0.73 mol) under N₂ atmosphere. After stirring at ambient temperature for 10 min, FSO₂CF₂CO₂CH₃ (185 mL, 0.730 mol) was added and the vented mixture was heated at 110° C. for 3 h until gas evolution ceased. The mixture was then cooled and filtered through Celite®, washing with EtOAc. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was partitioned between water (400 mL) and MTBE. The organic layer was washed with water, then brine, dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was recrystallized from DCM/MeOH (5/1) to give the title compound. The mother liquor was concentrated and the residue purified by silica gel column chromatography (PE/EtOAc=20/1) to give additional title compound. MS: m/z=250.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.55 (br s, 1H), 8.39 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 8.19 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 3.88-3.99 (m, 3H).

Step D: Methyl 3-amino-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

A solution of methyl 3-nitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (102 g, 0.410 mol) and 10% Pd/C (10 g, 10 wt %) in MeOH (1.0 L) was stirred under H₂ (35 psi) at 30° C. for 12 h. The suspension was filtered through Celite®, washing with MeOH (30 mL×3). The filtrate was concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=220.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.40-7.50 (m, 2H), 7.09-7.15 (m, 1H), 5.92 (s, 2H), 3.82 (s, 3H).

Step E: Methyl 3-bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

Methyl 3-amino-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (40 g, 180 mmol) was added portionwise to a suspension of CuBr (53.0 g, 365 mmol) and t-BuONO (47 g, 460 mmol) in acetonitrile (600 mL) at 0° C. The resulting mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 2 h, and then warmed to 25° C. and stirred for 16 h. The mixture was partitioned between EtOAc and aqueous HCl solution (1 M, 200 mL×4). The organic layer was washed with brine (200 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE/EtOAc=200/1) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=283, 285 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.37 (s, 1H), 8.06 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.77 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 3.97 (s, 3H).

Step F: Methyl 3-(1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzoate

A deoxygenated mixture of methyl 3-bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (5.0 g, 17 mmol), 1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole (5.9 g, 21 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.80 g, 0.69 mmol), and aqueous Na₂CO₃ solution (2 M, 26 mL, 53 mmol) in DMF (150 mL) was heated at 70° C. under N₂ for 2 h. The mixture was concentrated and the residue was partitioned between EtOAc (200 mL) and water (100 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine (100 mL), then dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE/EtOAc=10/1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=355.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) δ 8.37 (s, 1H), 8.06 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.77 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 3.97 (s, 3H).

Step G: Methyl 3-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

To a solution of methyl 3-(1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (5.0 g, 14 mmol) in MeOH (100 mL) was added a solution of HCl in MeOH (40 mL, 4 M). The mixture was stirred at 10° C. for 0.5 h then concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=271.0 (M+1).

Step H: Methyl 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate and methyl 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

To a solution of methyl 3-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (7.0 g, 26 mmol) in DMF (150 mL) was added Cs₂CO₃ (17 g, 52 mmol) and CH₃I (4.8 mL, 78 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated at 80° C. for 2 h, then cooled and concentrated. The residue was partitioned between water (150 mL) and EtOAc (100 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (150 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give a mixture of methyl 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate and methyl 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate. MS: m/z=285.0 (M+1).

Step I: 3-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

To a solution of methyl 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate and methyl 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (6.5 g, 23 mmol) in MeOH (100 mL) was added aqueous NaOH solution (35 mL, 2 M). The mixture was heated at 50° C. for 50 min then cooled. The majority of the MeOH was removed under reduced pressure and the resulting aqueous solution was partitioned between EtOAc (100 mL) and water (150 mL). The aqueous layer was acidified to pH 5 with aqueous HCl solution (1 N) and then further extracted with EtOAc (150 mL×2). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (150 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by recrystallization from MeOH (1 g/5 mL) to provide the title compound. MS: m/z=271.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) δ 13.43-13.68 (m, 1H) 8.18-8.24 (m, 1H), 8.05-8.12 (m, 1H), 7.92-7.99 (m, 1H), 7.77-7.84 (m, 1H), 6.43-6.52 (m, 1H), 3.93 (s, 3H).

The following intermediate was prepared in similar fashion to the procedure described above.

Compound LCMS Number Structure Compound Name (M + 1) B12

3-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4- (trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid 257.1

Intermediate B13

3-(5-Methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid Step A: Methyl 3-cyano-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

To a mixture of methyl 3-amino-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (15 g, 0.073 mol) and aqueous HCl solution (12 M, 24 mL) in H₂O (100 mL) at 0° C. was added dropwise a solution of NaNO₂ (5.5 g, 0.080 mol) in H₂O (30 mL). The reaction was stirred at 0° C. for 30 min and then added dropwise to a slurry of CuCN (7.1 g, 0.080 mol) and KCN (8.4 g, 0.13 mol) in H₂O (200 mL), while maintaining the internal temperature between 5-10° C. After the addition was complete, the reaction was heated at 80° C. for 1 h. The mixture was cooled and the solution was extracted with EtOAc (200 mL×4). The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (2% EtOAc in PE) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=230.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.46-8.53 (m, 1H), 8.33-8.42 (m, 1H), 7.87-7.95 (m, 1H), 4.01 (s, 3H).

Step B: Methyl 3-(N′-hydroxycarbamimidoyl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

To a mixture of methyl 3-cyano-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (1.6 g, 7.0 mmol) and hydroxylamine hydrochloride (0.98 g, 14 mmol) in MeOH (20 mL) was added NaHCO₃ (2.3 g, 28 mmol). The resulting mixture was heated at 85° C. for 5 h, then cooled and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (40% EtOAc in PE) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=263.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.26 (s, 1H), 8.18-8.21 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.80-7.83 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (s, 1H), 4.89 (s, 2H), 3.96 (s, 3H).

Step C: Methyl 3-(N-acetyl-N′-hydroxycarbamimidoyl)-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzoate

To a solution of methyl 3-(N′-hydroxycarbamimidoyl)-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzoate (282 mg, 1.07 mmol) and TEA (0.30 mL, 2.14 mmol) in anhydrous DCM (20 mL) at 25° C. was added AcCl (0.083 mL, 1.18 mmol). The resulting mixture was heated at 30° C. for 20 min, then cooled and concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=305.0 (M+1).

Step D: Methyl 3-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

A solution of methyl 3-(N-acetyl-N′-hydroxycarbamimidoyl)-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzoate (0.28 g, 0.93 mmol) in toluene (10 mL) was heated at 110° C. for 2 h, then cooled and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (30% EtOAc in PE) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=287.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.37-8.49 (m, 1H), 8.22-8.32 (m, 1H), 7.87-7.99 (m, 1H), 3.96 (s, 3H), 2.70 (s, 3H).

Step E: 3-(5-Methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

To a solution of methyl 3-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzoate (0.13 g, 0.45 mmol) in MeOH (2.0 mL) was added aqueous NaOH solution (2.0 mL, 1 M). The resulting mixture was heated at 50° C. for 1 h, and then cooled and acidified to pH 5 with aqueous HCl solution (1 M). The aqueous mixture was extracted with EtOAc (10 mL×3). The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=273.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.47 (s, 1H), 8.27 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.91 (d, J=8.8 Hz, 1H), 2.69 (s, 3H).

Intermediate B14

3-(1H-Pyrazol-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid Step A: Methyl 3-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

A mixture of methyl 3-bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (0.50 g, 1.8 mmol), pyrazole (0.18 g, 2.6 mmol), Cs₂CO₃ (1.4 g, 4.4 mmol), CuI (670 mg, 3.52 mmol) and 1,10-phenanthroline (0.13 g, 0.70 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (15 mL) was heated at 140° C. for 1 h under microwave irradiation. After cooling, the reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc (50 mL) and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and the residue was purified by preparative TLC (PE/EA=5/1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=271.0 (M+1).

Step B: 3-(1H-Pyrazol-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

To a solution of methyl 3-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (0.20 g, 0.74 mmol) in MeOH (15 mL) was added aqueous NaOH solution (3.0 mL, 2 M). The mixture was heated at 50° C. for 10 min. The majority of the MeOH was removed under reduced pressure and the resulting aqueous solution was partitioned between EtOAc (30 mL) and water (20 mL). The aqueous layer was acidified to pH 5 with aqueous HCl solution (1 M) and then extracted with EtOAc (30 mL×2). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (30 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=257.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) δ 8.19 (m, 1H), 8.13 (m, 1H), 8.07 (m, 1H), 7.97 (m, 1H), 7.78 (m, 1H), 6.55 (m, 1H).

Intermediate B15

3-(4-Methylthiazol-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid Step A: 3-Amino-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

A mixture of 3-nitro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (1.0 g, 4.3 mmol) and 10% Pd/C (0.20 g, 5% wt) in MeOH (20 mL) was stirred under H₂ atmosphere (15 psi) at ambient temperature for 12 h. The catalyst was filtered and the filtrate concentrated to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=206.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO) δ 7.46 (s, 1H), 7.38-7.45 (m, 1H), 7.13 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 5.84 (s, 2H).

Step B: Methyl 3-amino-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

A mixture of 3-amino-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (3.4 g, 16 mmol) and aqueous H₂SO₄ solution (18 M, 2.0 mL) in MeOH (20 mL) was heated at reflux until the starting material was consumed. The mixture was cooled then neutralized to pH 7 by the addition of aqueous NaOH solution (1N). The aqueous mixture was extracted with EtOAc (10 mL×3), and the combined organic combined layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=220.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.46-7.52 (m, 1H), 7.42 (s, 2H), 4.30 (br s, 2H), 3.92 (s, 3H).

Step C: Methyl 3-cyano-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

To a mixture of methyl 3-amino-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (3.2 g, 15 mmol) and aqueous HCl solution (12 M, 3.5 mL) in water (20 mL) was added dropwise a solution of NaNO₂(1.2 g, 17 mmol) in water (7.0 mL) at 5° C. The resulting mixture was stirred for 30 min at 5° C. and then added dropwise to a slurry of CuCN (1.3 g, 15 mmol) and KCN (1.6 g, 25 mmol) in water (4 mL), while maintaining the internal temperature between 5-10° C. The mixture was stirred at 10° C. for 30 min and then heated at 80° C. for 1 h. After cooling, the mixture was extracted with DCM (30 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=230 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.45-8.53 (m, 1H), 8.33-8.40 (m, 1H), 7.91 (d, 1H, J=8.5 Hz), 4.01 (s, 3H).

Step D: Methyl 3-carbamothioyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

H₂S gas was bubbled through a solution of methyl 3-cyano-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (0.10 g, 0.61 mmol) and TEA (0.20 mL, 1.4 mmol) in pyridine (10 mL) at ambient temperature for 30 min. The mixture was concentrated, and the residue was partitioned between water and EtOAc (10 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=5:1) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=264.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.25-8.31 (m, 1H), 8.09-8.17 (m, 1H), 7.75 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 4.45-4.68 (m, 2H), 3.96 (s, 3H).

Step E: Methyl 3-(4-hydroxy-4-methyl-4,5-dihydrothiazol-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate

A mixture of methyl 3-carbamothioyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (100 mg, 0.38 mmol), TEA (0.20 mL, 1.4 mmol) and 1-chloropropan-2-one (0.033 mL, 0.42 mmol) in DMF (3.0 mL) was heated at 120° C. for 4 h, then concentrated. The residue was partitioned between water and EtOAc (10 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EA=3:1) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=320.0 (M+1).

Step F: 3-(4-Methylthiazol-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

A solution of methyl 3-(4-hydroxy-4-methyl-4,5-dihydrothiazol-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)-benzoate in aqueous NaOH solution (1 M, 10 mL) was stirred at ambient temperature for 8 h. The mixture was acidified to pH 5 with aqueous HCl solution (1 M) then extracted with EtOAc (10 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and then concentrated to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=288.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.23-8.34 (m, 1H), 8.06-8.17 (m, 1H), 7.68-7.83 (m, 1H), 6.97-7.10 (m, 1H), 2.50 (s, 3H).

Intermediate B16

4-Chloro-3-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)benzoic acid Step A: Methyl 4-chloro-3-cyanobenzoate

To a mixture of methyl 3-amino-4-chlorobenzoate (10 g, 54 mmol) and aqueous HCl solution (12 M, 15 mL) in water (80 mL) at 0° C. was added dropwise a solution of NaNO₂ (4.5 g, 60 mmol) in water (18 mL) at 0° C. The reaction was stirred for 30 min at 0° C. and then added dropwise to a slurry of CuCN (4.9 g, 54 mmol) and KCN (6.0 g, 92 mmol) in water (40 mL), while maintaining the temperature between 5-10° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at 10° C. for 30 min and then heated at 80° C. for 1 h. After cooling, the mixture was extracted with DCM. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and then concentrated to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=196.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.34 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 8.17-8.20 (m, 1H), 7.61 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 3.96 (s, 3H).

Step B: Methyl 3-carbamothioyl-4-chlorobenzoate

H₂S gas was bubbled through a solution of methyl 4-chloro-3-cyanobenzoate (3.0 g, 15 mmol) and TEA (2.13 mL, 15.3 mmol) in pyridine (15 mL) at ambient temperature for 1 h. The reaction mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by column chromatography (PE:EtOAc=10:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=230.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.29 (d, J=1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.95-7.97 (m, 2H), 7.45 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.26 (s, 1H), 3.92 (s, 3H).

Step C: Methyl 4-chloro-3-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)benzoate

A mixture of methyl 3-carbamothioyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (1.0 g, 4.3 mmol), TEA (0.20 mL, 1.4 mmol) and 1-chloropropan-2-one (0.80 g, 8.6 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) was heated at 120° C. for 4 h, then concentrated. The residue was partitioned between water and EtOAc (10 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=3:1) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=268.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.29 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.97-8.00 (m, 1H), 7.76 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.09 (s, 1H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 2.56 (s, 3H).

Step D: 4-Chloro-3-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)benzoic acid

A mixture of methyl 4-chloro-3-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)benzoate (0.40 g, 2.0 mmol) in aqueous NaOH solution (1M, 10 mL) was stirred at ambient temperature for 8 h. The mixture was acidified to pH 5 with aqueous HCl solution (2 M) and then extracted with EtOAc (10 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and then concentrated to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=254.0 (M+1).

Intermediate B17

3-(1-(Difluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

A solution of methyl 3-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate (50 mg, 0.18 mmol), sodium chlorodifluoroacetate (34 mg, 0.22 mmol), and 18-crown-6 (9.8 mg, 0.037 mmol) in acetonitrile (1 mL) was heated at reflux for 40 h. Additional sodium chlorodifluoroacetate (34 mg, 0.22 mmol) was added after 18 and 22 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to ambient temperature and aqueous NaOH solution (10M, 0.056 mL, 0.55 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was heated at 50° C. for 2 h. The mixture was cooled and then filtered, washing with acetonitrile (1 mL) and DMF (1 mL). The filtrate was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (5-95% acetonitrile+0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to provide the title compound. MS: m/z=307.0 (M+1).

Intermediate B18

3-(3-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

A deoxygenated solution of 3-methyl-1H-pyrazole (0.120 mL, 1.49 mmol), 3-bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (0.20 g, 0.74 mmol), copper(I) iodide (28 mg, 0.15 mmol), cesium carbonate (0.48 g, 1.5 mmol), and trans-N,N-dimethylcyclohexane-1,2-diamine (0.023 mL, 0.15 mmol) in dioxane (1.0 mL) was heated at reflux for 18 h. The mixture was cooled and filtered, washing with DMF (1.5 mL). The filtrate was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (5-95% acetonitrile+0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=271.0 (M+1).

Intermediate B19

3-(4-Methyloxazol-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid

A deoxygenated mixture of 3-bromo-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (100 mg, 0.372 mmol), 4-methyloxazole (0.061 mL, 0.74 mmol), chloro(2-dicyclohexylphosphino-2′,4′,6′-tri-i-propyl-1,1′-biphenyl)[2-(2-aminoethyl)phenyl] palladium(II) methyl-t-butyl ether adduct (15.4 mg, 0.019 mmol), and sodium tert-butoxide (107 mg, 1.12 mmol) in DMA (1.5 mL) was heated under microwave irradiation at 110° C. for 18 h. The mixture was cooled and filtered, and the filtrate was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (C18 column, H₂O:CH₃CN:CF₃CO₂H=95:5:0.1 to 5:95:0.1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=272.0 (M+1).

Intermediate B20

3-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoic acid Step A: 3-Nitro-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoic acid

4-(Trifluoromethoxy)benzoic acid (37.4 g, 0.181 mol) was added portionwise to an aqueous HNO₃ solution (15 M, 75 mL) at 25° C. Aqueous H₂SO₄ solution (18 M, 90 mL) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred for 18 h. The reaction mixture was carefully diluted with water (300 mL) and the precipitate was filtered, washed with water, and dried to give the title compound. MS: m/z=252 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.54 (s, 1H), 8.32 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.82 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H).

Step B: Methyl 3-nitro-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate

Aqueous H₂SO₄ solution (18 M, 60 mL) was added dropwise to a solution of 3-nitro-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoic acid (33.5 g, 0.135 mol) in MeOH (400 mL) at 0° C. The resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 2 h, then cooled and concentrated. The residue was diluted with EtOAc, and washed with water (100 mL×3), aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (100 mL×3), and brine. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z: 266 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.54 (s, 1H), 8.32 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.82 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 3.90 (s, 3H).

Step C: Methyl 3-amino-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate

A mixture of methyl 3-nitro-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate (14 g, 0.053 mol) and 10% Pd/C (1.0 g, 10 wt %) in MeOH (200 mL) was stirred under H₂ (50 psi) at 15° C. for 24 h. The suspension was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=5:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=236 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 7.47 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.19-7.25 (m, 1H), 7.11-7.17 (m, 1H), 5.71 (s, 2H), 3.82 (s, 3H).

Step D: Methyl 3-bromo-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate

A mixture of CuBr (5.0 g, 34 mmol) and t-BuONO (5.0 g, 43 mmol) in MeCN (60 mL) was stirred at 0° C. for 15 min, and then methyl 3-amino-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate (4.0 g, 17 mmol) was added. The resulting mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 2 h, and then stirred at 15° C. for 16 h. The mixture was filtered and the filter cake was washed with EtOAc. The filtrate was washed with aqueous HCl solution (1N), water, and then brine. The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=20:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=298/300 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.14 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.96 (dd, J=8.7, 1.9 Hz, 1H), 7.55 (dd, J=8.7, 1.1 Hz, 1H), 3.84 (s, 3H).

Step E: Methyl 3-(1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoro-methoxy)benzoate

A deoxygenated mixture of methyl 3-bromo-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate (500 mg, 1.67 mmol), 1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole (510 mg, 1.84 mmol), Pd(PPh₃)₄ (50 mg, 0.05 mmol), and Na₂CO₃ (530 mg, 5.0 mmol) in DMF (5 mL) was heated at 100° C. under N₂ atmosphere for 16 h. The reaction mixture was cooled and then partitioned between water (15 mL) and EtOAc (15 mL×3). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative TLC (PE:EtOAc=3:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=371 (M+1).

Step F: Methyl 3-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate

A solution of HCl in EtOAc (4 M, 10 mL, 40 mmol) was added to a solution of methyl 3-(1-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate (300 mg, 1.1 mmol) in EtOAc (2 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred at 15° C. for 1 h and then concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=287 (M+1).

Step G: Methyl 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate

A mixture of methyl 3-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate (220 mg, 0.81 mmol), CH₃I (0.292 mL, 4.00 mmol), and Cs₂CO₃ (780 mg, 2.4 mmol) in DMF (5 mL) was heated at 70° C. for 1 h. The mixture was cooled and then partitioned between water (10 mL) and EtOAc (10 mL×2). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative TLC (PE:EtOAc=2:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=301 (M+1).

Step H: 3-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoic acid

A mixture of methyl 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzoate (120 mg, 0.4 mmol) and aqueous NaOH solution (2M, 10 mmol, 5 mL) was heated at 50° C. for 30 min. The reaction mixture was cooled, acidified to pH 5 with aqueous HCl solution (1M), and then extracted with EtOAc (10 mL×2). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=287 (M+1).

Reaction Scheme for Example 2

Example 2

5-(2-Chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-N-cyclopropyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide Step A: Ethyl 5-(2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate

To a solution of ethyl 5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (2.16 g, 9.35 mol, prepared by the method described in J. Med. Chem. 2008, 51, 1560) and TEA (5.72 mL, 41.2 mmol) in anhydrous DCM (40 mL) was added a solution of 2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl chloride (2.50 g, 10.3 mmol) in anhydrous DCM (10 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 3 h then concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=10:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=438 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.82 (s, 1H), 7.72 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.65 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.60-7.52 (m, 5H), 7.10 (s, 1H), 4.43-4.38 (m, 2H), 1.41 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H).

Step B: 5-(2-Chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid

A mixture of lithium hydroxide monohydrate (1.19 g, 28.0 mmol) and ethyl 5-(2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (2.49 g, 5.70 mmol) in 4:1 mixture of THF and H₂O (50 mL) was stirred at 25° C. for 12 h. The reaction mixture was acidified to pH 6 with aqueous HCl solution (1M) and extracted with EtOAc (30 mL×3). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=410 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.82 (s, 1H), 7.74-7.69 (m, 1H), 7.68-7.63 (m, 1H), 7.62-7.48 (m, 5H), 7.08 (s, 1H).

Step C: 5-(2-Chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-N-cyclopropyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide

HATU (116 mg, 0.300 mmol) was added to a solution of 5-(2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (50 mg, 0.12 mmol), cyclopropanamine (0.019 mL, 0.12 mmol) and TEA (0.043 mL, 0.30 mmol) in DMF (2 mL), and the resulting mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 12 h. The reaction mixture was diluted with EtOAc (10 mL) and washed with water (3 mL×3). The organic layer was washed with brine (3 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10-40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=449 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.83-7.80 (m, 1H), 7.74-7.69 (m, 1H), 7.67-7.63 (m, 1H), 7.62-7.58 (m, 2H), 7.57-7.52 (m, 2H), 7.52-7.48 (m, 1H), 7.05-7.00 (m, 1H), 2.89-2.82 (m, 1H), 0.84-0.78 (m, 2H), 0.69-0.64 (m, 2H).

Example 3

N-(3-Methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

POCl₃ (0.020 mL, 0.21 mmol) was added to a solution of 3-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (50 mg, 0.17 mmol) and 3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (50 mg, 0.29 mmol) in pyridine (5 mL), and the resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 4 h. The mixture was concentrated and the residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10-40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=443 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.53-8.43 (m, 1H), 8.01-7.94 (m, 2H), 7.92-7.84 (m, 1H), 7.49 (s, 4H), 7.46-7.39 (m, 1H), 7.19-7.12 (m, 1H), 6.63 (s, 1H), 2.54 (s, 3H), 2.38 (s, 3H).

Example 4

6-(5-(2-Chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-nicotinamide Step A: 3-(5-Bromopyridin-2-yl)-3-oxopropanenitrile

NaH (60 wt. %, 0.37 g, 9.3 mmol) was added to a solution of methyl 5-bromopicolinate (1.00 g, 4.65 mmol) in toluene (10 mL) at 25° C., and the resulting mixture was heated to 80° C. Anhydrous acetonitrile (0.29 mL, 5.5 mmol) was added, and the mixture was heated at reflux for 16 h, then cooled and filtered. The filtered solid was dissolved in water, and the resulting aqueous solution was acidified to pH 4 with aqueous HCl solution (1M), then extracted with DCM (10 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=225, 227 (M+1).

Step B: 3-(5-Bromopyridin-2-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine

A mixture of 3-(5-bromopyridin-2-yl)-3-oxopropanenitrile (0.80 g, 3.6 mmol) and phenylhydrazine (0.36 mL, 3.6 mmol) in ethanol (10 mL) was heated at reflux for 16 h. The product mixture was cooled and concentrated, and the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=1:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=315, 317 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.66 (br s, 1H), 7.91 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.82 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.64 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.52 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.41 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 6.27 (s, 1H), 3.91 (br s, 2H).

Step C: 6-(5-Amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)nicotinonitrile

Pd(PPh₃)₄ (0.73 g, 0.60 mmol) was added to a deoxygenated mixture of 3-(5-bromopyridin-2-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (2.0 g, 6.3 mmol) and Zn(CN)₂ (1.1 g, 9.5 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (10 mL) under N₂ atmosphere, and the resulting mixture was heated at 140° C. for 16 h. The mixture was cooled and concentrated, and the residue was purified by column chromatography (PE:EtOAc=1:1) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=262 (M+1).

Step D: 2-Chloro-N-(3-(5-cyanopyridin-2-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

POCl₃ (0.040 mL, 0.41 mmol) was added to a solution of 6-(5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)nicotinonitrile (100 mg, 0.38 mmol) and 2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (102 mg, 0.45 mmol) in pyridine (3 mL), and the resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 4 h. The mixture was cooled and concentrated, and the residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10-40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=468 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.99-8.88 (m, 1H) 8.43-8.35 (m, 1H) 8.21-8.12 (m, 1H) 8.03-7.92 (m, 2H) 7.68 (br s, 2H) 7.59 (d, J=3.5 Hz, 6H).

Step E: 6-(5-(2-Chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-nicotinamide

A solution of H₂O₂ in water (30%, 1 mL) was added dropwise to a solution of 2-chloro-N-(3-(5-cyanopyridin-2-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (50 mg, 0.11 mmol) and potassium carbonate (18 mg, 0.15 mmol) in DMSO (2 mL) at 25° C., and the resulting mixture was stirred for 2 h. The mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate (20 mL) and excess H₂O₂ was quenched with aqueous NaSO₃ solution (1M, 20 mL). The organic layer was separated and concentrated. The residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10-40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=486 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 9.16-9.07 (m, 1H) 8.42-8.32 (m, 1H) 8.25-8.14 (m, 1H) 7.90-7.82 (m, 1H) 7.78-7.49 (m, 8H) 7.35-7.30 (m, 1H).

Example 5

N-(1″,5-Dimethyl-1H,1″H-[3,1′:3′,4″-terpyrazol]-5′-yl)-3-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

POCl₃ (0.020 mL, 0.21 mmol) was added to a solution of 3-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (50 mg, 0.17 mmol) and 1″,5-dimethyl-1H,1″H-[3,1′:3′,4″-terpyrazol]-5′-amine (50 mg, 0.20 mmol) in pyridine (5 mL), and the resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 4 h. The mixture was cooled and concentrated, and the residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10-40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=513 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.24 (s, 2H), 8.11-8.00 (m, 2H), 7.89 (s, 1H), 7.42 (s, 1H), 7.03 (s, 1H), 6.39 (s, 1H), 3.95 (s, 3H), 2.53 (s, 3H), 2.36 (s, 3H).

Example 10

2-Chloro-N-(3-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide Step A: 5-(2-Chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide

A mixture of ethyl 5-(2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (2.0 g, 4.6 mmol) in aqueous ammonia solution (25%, 50 mL) was stirred at 25° C. for 12 h. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (30 mL×3) and the combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (DCM:MeOH=50:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=409 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.82 (s, 1H), 7.74-7.69 (m, 1H), 7.68-7.59 (m, 3H), 7.56 (t, J=7.40 Hz, 2H), 7.52-7.47 (m, 1H), 7.05 (s, 1H).

Step B: 2-Chloro-N-(3-cyano-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)-benzamide

TFAA (680 mg, 3.2 mmol) was added to a solution of 5-(2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (1.1 g, 2.7 mmol) and TEA (0.94 mL, 6.7 mmol) in anhydrous DCM (30 mL) at 0° C., and the resulting mixture was warmed to 25° C. and stirred for 2 h. The reaction mixture was partitioned between a saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (50 mL) and DCM (30 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=10:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=391 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.84 (s, 1H), 7.76-7.72 (m, 1H), 7.70-7.66 (m, 1H), 7.62-7.55 (m, 5H), 7.18 (s, 1H).

Step C: N-(3-Acetyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-benzamide

A solution of MeMgBr in ethyl ether (3 M, 0.8 mL) was added to a solution of 2-chloro-N-(3-cyano-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (600 mg, 1.5 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (10 mL) at 25° C., and the resulting mixture was heated at 100° C. for 3 h. The mixture was cooled and the excess MeMgBr was quenched with saturated aqueous NH₄Cl solution (50 mL). The resulting mixture was extracted with EtOAc (20 mL×3), and the combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=10:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=408 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.33 (s, 1H), 7.97 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.69-7.62 (m, 1H), 7.60-7.52 (m, 5H), 7.35 (s, 1H), 2.63 (s, 3H).

Step D: 2-Chloro-N-(3-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

2-Oxoacetic acid hydrate (23 mg, 0.25 mmol) was added to a mixture of N-(3-acetyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (100 mg, 0.25 mmol) in acetic acid (2 mL), and the resulting mixture was heated at 100° C. for 5 h. The mixture was cooled and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in water (3 mL) and the aqueous layer was basified to pH 8 with concentrated aqueous ammonia solution. Hydrazine hydrate (0.028 mL, 0.58 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was heated at 100° C. for 1 h then cooled. The precipitate was filtered, washed with water, and then purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10 to 40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=460 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 13.18 (br s, 1H), 10.94 (br s, 1H), 8.03-7.95 (m, 2H), 7.88-7.81 (m, 1H), 7.80-7.74 (m, 1H), 7.66-7.59 (m, 2H), 7.55 (t, J=7.7 Hz, 2H), 7.49-7.42 (m, 1H), 7.02-6.94 (m, 2H).

Example 11

3-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(3-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide Step A: Ethyl-5-(3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate

A solution of ethyl 5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (1.3 g, 5.6 mmol, prepared according to J. Med. Chem., 2008, 1560-1576) in anhydrous DCM (10 mL) was added dropwise to a solution of 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoro-methyl)benzoyl chloride (1.6 g, 5.6 mmol) in DCM (10 mL) at 25° C., and the resulting mixture was stirred for 2 h. The mixture was partitioned between DCM (100 mL) and a saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (20 mL×3). The organic layer was washed with brine (20 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=5:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=484 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.09 (s, 1H), 8.03 (s, 1H), 7.84 (s, 2H), 7.60-7.49 (m, 5H), 7.42 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.33 (s, 1H), 6.51 (s, 1H), 4.45 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 3.97 (s, 3H), 1.42 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H).

Step B: 5-(3-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide

A mixture of ethyl 5-(3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)-benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (1.4 g, 2.9 mmol) in aqueous ammonia solution (25%, 50 mL) was stirred at 25° C. for 12 h. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (30 mL×3), and the combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=455 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.26 (s, 1H), 8.10 (s, 1H), 7.86 (q, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.60-7.47 (m, 5H), 7.42 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.18 (s, 1H), 6.84 (br s, 1H), 6.51 (s, 1H), 5.76 (br s, 1H), 3.97 (s, 3H).

Step C: N-(3-Cyano-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

TFAA (0.440 mL, 3.2 mmol) was added to a solution of 5-(3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)-benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (1.2 g, 2.6 mmol) and TEA (0.92 mL, 6.6 mmol) in anhydrous DCM (50 mL) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was warmed to ambient temperature and stirred for 2 h, then partitioned between a saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ solution (50 mL) and DCM (20 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=5:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=437 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.20 (br s, 1H), 8.04 (s, 1H), 7.88-7.79 (m, 2H), 7.67-7.52 (m, 5H), 7.22 (s, 1H), 7.18 (s, 1H), 6.52 (s, 1H), 3.96 (s, 3H).

Step D: N-(3-Acetyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

A solution of MeMgBr in ethyl ether (3 M, 0.11 mL) was added to a solution of N-(3-cyano-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (100 mg, 0.23 mmol) in anhydrous toluene (2 mL) at 25° C., and the resulting mixture was heated at 100° C. for 3 h. The reaction was cooled and the excess MeMgBr was quenched with saturated aqueous NH₄Cl solution (10 mL). The resulting mixture was extracted with EtOAc (3 mL×3) and the combined organic layers were dried and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative TLC (PE:EtOAc=1:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=454 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.25 (s, 1H), 8.04 (s, 1H), 7.83 (s, 2H), 7.60-7.49 (m, 5H), 7.41 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.19 (s, 1H), 6.50 (s, 1H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 2.62 (s, 3H).

Step E: 3-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(3-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

2-Oxoacetic acid hydrate (4.0 mg, 0.044 mmol) was added to a mixture of N-(3-acetyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (20 mg, 0.044 mmol) in acetic acid (1 mL). The resulting mixture was heated at 100° C. for 5 h then cooled and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in water (3 mL) and the aqueous layer was basified to pH 8 with concentrated aqueous ammonia solution. Hydrazine hydrate (0.005 mL, 0.10 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was heated at 100° C. for 1 h, then cooled. The precipitate was filtered, washed with water, and then purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10 to 40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=506 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.20 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 8.10 (s, 1H), 8.03-7.98 (m, 1H), 7.96-7.91 (m, 1H), 7.69 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.65 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.54 (t, J=7.5 Hz, 2H), 7.43-7.49 (m, 1H), 7.09 (d, J=9.5 Hz, 1H), 7.03 (s, 1H), 6.50 (s, 1H), 3.99 (s, 3H).

Example 14

N-(1,2-Dimethyl-4-phenyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

POCl₃ (0.028 mL, 0.30 mmol) was added to a suspension of 1,2-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1H-imidazol-5-amine (28 mg, 0.15 mmol) and 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (40 mg, 0.15 mmol) in pyridine (0.5 mL), and the resulting mixture was stirred at ambient temperature for 18 h. The product mixture was diluted with DMF (1 mL) and purified by reverse-phase HPLC (C18 column, H₂O:CH₃CN:CF₃CO₂H—95:5:0.1 to 5:95:0.1) to give the title compound as a TFA salt. MS: m/z=440 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.24 (s, 1H), 8.14 (d, J=8.4 Hz, 1H), 7.99 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 7.68 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 7.61 (dd, J=8.1, 1.4 Hz, 2H), 7.52-7.42 (m, 4H), 6.50 (s, 1H), 3.96 (s, 3H), 3.69 (s, 3H), 2.74 (s, 3H).

Example 21

4-Chloro-3-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-N-(1-phenyl-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzamide

POCl₃ (0.030 mL, 0.32 mmol) was added to a solution of 4-chloro-3-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)benzoic acid (50 mg, 0.27 mmol) and 1-phenyl-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (50 mg, 0.32 mmol) in pyridine (2 mL) at 25° C. The resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 4 h then cooled and concentrated. The residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10 to 40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=472 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.90-8.81 (m, 2H), 8.70-8.61 (m, 1H), 8.55 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 7.96-7.85 (m, 1H), 7.72 (dd, J=8.3, 3.8 Hz, 3H), 7.60 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.54 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.45 (s, 1H), 7.40 (s, 1H), 2.55 (s, 3H).

Example 22

3-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(5′-methyl-3-(2-oxo-2-(pyridin-2-ylamino)ethyl)-2′H-[1,3′-bipyrazol]-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide Step A: Methyl 2-(5′-methyl-5-(3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzamido)-2′H-[1,3′-bipyrazol]-3-yl)acetate

A solution of 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (345 mg, 1.28 mmol) in thionyl chloride (2 mL) was heated at 80° C. for 1 h, then cooled and concentrated. Triethylamine (0.356 mL, 2.55 mmol) and methyl 2-(5-amino-5′-methyl-2′H-[1,3′-bipyrazol]-3-yl)acetate (200 mg, 0.851 mmol) were added to a solution of the residue in anhydrous DCM (2 mL) at 0° C. The resulting mixture was warmed to at 25° C. and stirred for 30 min, then concentrated. The residue was diluted with aqueous NaOH solution (1M, 10 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (10 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (20 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (PE:EtOAc=5:1 to 3:1), to give the title compound. MS: m/z=488 (M+1).

Step B: 2-(5′-Methyl-5-(3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)-benzamido)-2′H-[1,3′-bipyrazol]-3-yl)acetic acid

Aqueous LiOH solution (2M, 10 mL) was added to a solution of methyl 2-(5′-methyl-5-(3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-2′H-[1,3′-bipyrazol]-3-yl)acetate (200 mg, 0.41 mmol) in EtOH (5 mL) at 25° C., and the resulting mixture was heated at 40° C. for 30 min. The mixture was acidified to pH 3 with aqueous HCl solution (2M, 15 mL) and then extracted with EtOAc (20 mL×3). The organic layers were washed with brine (20 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and then concentrated to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=474 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 11.66-11.60 (m, 1H), 8.22-8.18 (m, 1H), 8.11-8.05 (m, 1H), 8.05-7.99 (m, 1H), 7.87-7.83 (m, 1H). 6.71 (s, 1H), 6.57-6.50 (m, 1H), 6.28 (s, 1H), 3.95 (s, 3H), 3.62 (s, 2H), 2.30 (s, 3H).

Step C: 3-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(5′-methyl-3-(2-oxo-2-(pyridin-2-ylamino) ethyl)-2′H-[1,3′-bipyrazol]-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

To a solution of 2-(5′-methyl-5-(3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzamido)-2′H-[1,3′-bipyrazol]-3-yl)acetic acid (30 mg, 0.063 mmol) and pyridin-2-amine (7.2 mg, 0.076 mmol) in DMF (1 mL) was added HATU (30 mg, 0.076 mmol) and TEA (0.018 mL, 0.13 mmol). The mixture was heated at 50° C. for 0.5 h, then cooled and partitioned between water (10 mL) and EtOAc (10 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10-40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=550 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.42-8.31 (m, 1H) 8.26-8.22 (m, 1H) 8.17-8.09 (m, 2H) 8.04-7.99 (m, 1H) 7.91-7.83 (m, 1H) 7.74-7.69 (m, 1H) 7.42-7.35 (m, 1H) 6.96 (s, 1H) 6.57-6.52 (m, 1H) 6.38 (s, 1H) 4.01 (s, 3H) 3.95 (s, 2H) 2.38 (s, 3H)

Example 23

3,5-Dichloro-4-methyl-N-(1-phenyl-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzamide

To a solution of 3,5-dichloro-4-methylbenzoic acid (50 mg, 0.24 mmol) and 1-phenyl-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (57 mg, 0.24 mmol) in pyridine (1 mL) was added POCl₃ (0.020 mL, 0.21 mmol), and the resulting mixture was heated at 50° C. for 10 min. The mixture was cooled, then partitioned between water (5 mL) and EtOAc (5 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (5 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10-40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to give title compound. MS: m/z=423.1 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.80 (m, 2H) 8.46 (m, 2H) 7.84 (s, 2H) 7.64 (m, 2H) 7.56 (m, 2H) 7.50 (m, 1H) 7.36 (s, 1H) 2.52 (s, 3H)

Example 24

N-(1-Phenyl-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

To a solution of 3-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (50 mg, 0.24 mmol) and 1-phenyl-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (57 mg, 0.24 mmol) in pyridine (1 mL) was added POCl₃ (0.020 mL, 0.21 mmol), and the resulting mixture was heated at 50° C. for 10 min. The mixture was cooled and then partitioned between water (5 mL) and EtOAc (5 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine (5 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10-40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=475 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.72 (m, 1H), 8.17 (m, 3H), 8.06 (m, 2H), 7.95 (m, 1H), 7.81 (m, 1H), 7.67 (m, 2H), 7.56 (m, 2H), 7.49 (m, 2H), 7.29 (m, 1H), 6.60 (m, 1H).

Example 29

N-(1-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

To a solution of 3-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (40 mg, 0.15 mmol) in anhydrous DCM (1 mL) was added oxalyl dichloride (0.025 mL, 0.29 mmol), and the resulting mixture was heated at reflux for 1 h. The mixture was cooled and concentrated. TEA (0.0193 mL, 0.14 mmol) and 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (16 mg, 0.069 mmol) were added to a solution of the residue in anhydrous DCM (2 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 30 min then concentrated. The residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10-40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=509 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.79-8.67 (m, 2H), 8.60 (s, 1H), 8.24 (m, 1H), 8.16 (m, 1H), 8.12 (m, 1H), 8.00 (m, 1H), 7.62-7.58 (m, 2H), 7.33-7.30 (m, 3H), 2.72 (s, 3H).

Example 30

N-(1-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide Step A: 3-Bromo-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

SOCl₂ (1.09 mL, 14.9 mmol) was added to a solution of 3-bromo-4-rifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (2.0 g, 7.4 mmol) in DCM (40 mL), and the resulting mixture was heated at reflux for 1 h, then cooled and concentrated. A solution of the residue in DCM (20 mL) was added to a solution of 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (1.89 g, 7.40 mmol) in DCM (20 mL). The resulting mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 3 h, then concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (DCM:MeOH=100:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=505 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.83 (d, J=5.5 Hz, 2H), 8.49 (d, J=5.8 Hz, 2H), 8.25 (s, 1H), 7.94-8.01 (m, 1H), 7.86-7.93 (m, 1H), 7.70 (dd, J=4.6, 8.4 Hz, 2H), 7.41 (s, 1H), 7.31 (t, J=8.5 Hz, 2H).

Step B: N-(1-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

To a deoxygenated solution of 3-bromo-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (1.00 g, 1.98 mmol) in dioxane (30 mL) was added 4,4,4′,4′,5,5,5′,5′-octamethyl-2,2′-bi(1,3,2-dioxaborolane) (600 mg, 2.38 mmol), potassium acetate (580 mg, 5.94 mmol) and Pd(dppf)Cl₂ (70 mg, 0.1 mmol). The resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 12 h, then cooled and partitioned between water and EtOAc (20 mL×3). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (DCM:MeOH=100:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=553 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.61 (d, J=5.0 Hz, 2H), 7.99-8.09 (m, 2H), 7.94 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 2H), 7.82-7.88 (m, 1H), 7.69 (dd, J=4.5, 8.5 Hz, 2H), 7.31 (dt, J=4.0, 8.5 Hz, 2H), 7.16 (d, J=3.5 Hz, 1H), 1.22 (s, 12H).

Step C: N-(1-(4-Fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

Pd(dppf)Cl₂ (6 mg, 0.01 mmol) was added to a deoxygenated mixture of N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (100 mg, 0.18 mmol), 2-chloro-6-methylpyridine (23 mg, 0.18 mmol) and Na₂CO₃ (38 mg, 0.36 mmol) in a 4:1 mixture of dioxane and H₂O (5 mL). The resulting mixture was heated at 80° C. for 12 h. The reaction mixture was cooled and then partitioned between water (10 mL) and EtOAc (5 mL×3). The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and then concentrated. The residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (10-40% acetonitrile+0.75% trifluoroacetic acid in water) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=518 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.84 (s, 2H), 8.52 (d, J=4.3 Hz, 2H), 8.33-8.41 (m, 1H), 8.25 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.16 (s, 1H), 8.09 (d, J=8.3 Hz, 1H), 7.86 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.78 (d, J=7.5 Hz, 1H), 7.64-7.73 (m, 2H), 7.41 (s, 1H), 7.27 (t, J=8.5 Hz, 2H), 2.78 (s, 3H).

Example 56

N-(3-(6-Oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide Step A: 3-(Pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl chloride

Oxalyl chloride (5.1 mL, 59.7 mmol) was added to a mixture of 3-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (800 mg, 3.0 mmol) and DMF (22 mg, 0.30 mmol) in DCM (8 mL), and the resulting mixture was heated to 60° C. for 16 h. The mixture was cooled and concentrated to give the title compound.

Step B: N-(3-(6-Oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

To a solution of 3-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl chloride (65 mg, 0.22 mmol) in DCM (2 mL) was added 6-(5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl) pyridazin-3(2H)-one (50 mg, 0.20 mmol) and pyridine (0.031 mL, 0.40 mmol), and the resulting mixture was stirred at 32° C. for 16 h. The mixture was concentrated and the residue was partitioned between EtOAc (20 mL) and saturated NaHCO₃ solution (2×10 mL). The organic layer was concentrated and the residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC to give the title compound. MS: m/z=504 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, MeOD) δ 8.93 (d, 2H), 8.20 (m, 2H), 8.18 (m, 1H), 8.01 (m, 1H), 7.62 (m, 2H), 7.56-7.55 (m, 3H), 7.51-7.45 (m, 1H), 7.06 (d, J=10 Hz, 1H), 7.03 (s, 1H).

Example 58 and 59

3-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(3-((2-methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide and 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(3-((1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide Step A: N-(3-(Cyanomethyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

A mixture of 2-(5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)acetonitrile (1.00 g, 3.70 mmol), 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl chloride (0.880 g, 4.44 mmol) and pyridine (2 mL) in DCM (15 mL) was heated at 70° C. for 1 h. The reaction mixture was cooled and concentrated, and the residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (PE:EtOAc=10:1) to give the title compound. MS: m/z=451 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.77 (s, 1H), 8.15-8.09 (m, 1H), 8.03-7.95 (m, 2H), 7.87-7.77 (m, 2H), 7.59-7.47 (m, 2H), 7.45-7.36 (m, 2H), 6.55 (s, 1H), 6.47 (s, 1H), 4.11 (s, 2H), 3.93 (s, 3H).

Step B: N-(3-((1H-Tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

A mixture of N-(3-(cyanomethyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (500 mg, 1.10 mmol), solid NH₄Cl (71.3 mg, 1.30 mmol), and sodium azide (87 mg, 1.3 mmol) in DMF (10 mL) was heated at 100° C. for 14 h. After cooling, the mixture was partitioned between water and EtOAc (20 mL×3). The combined organic layers were concentrated, and the residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC to give the title compound. MS: m/z=494 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.73 (s, 1H), 8.12 (s, 1H), 8.06-7.94 (m, 2H), 7.81 (d, J=2.5 Hz, 1H), 7.57-7.51 (m, 2H), 7.51-7.44 (m, 2H), 7.40-7.32 (m, 1H), 6.46 (d, J=4.5 Hz, 2H), 4.37 (s, 2H), 3.92 (s, 3H).

Step C: 3-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(3-((2-methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

To a suspension of NaH (60 wt. %, 39 mg, 1.0 mmol) in THF (10 mL) at 0° C. was added N-(3-((1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (400 mg, 0.811 mmol), and the resulting mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 0.5 h. Iodomethane (0.15 mL, 2.4 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred at 20° C. for 2 h, then concentrated. The residue was partitioned between water (20 mL) and EtOAc (15 mL×3). The combined organic layers were dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, and concentrated. The residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC to give the title compounds as Peak 1 (first to elute) and Peak 2 (second to elute). Peak 1: 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(3-((1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide. MS: m/z=508 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.74 (br s, 1H), 8.03 (s, 1H), 7.86-7.80 (m, 1H), 7.80-7.74 (m, 1H), 7.54-7.35 (m, 6H), 6.57 (s, 1H), 6.47 (s, 1H), 4.32 (s, 2H), 4.04 (s, 3H), 3.89 (s, 3H). Peak 2: 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(3-((2-methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide. MS: m/z=508 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 10.71 (s, 1H), 8.12 (s, 1H), 8.02-7.92 (m, 2H), 7.81 (d, J=1.5 Hz, 1H), 7.57-7.51 (m, 2H), 7.50-7.43 (m, 2H), 7.42-7.28 (m, 1H), 6.47 (s, 1H), 6.40 (s, 1H), 4.35 (s, 3H), 4.27 (s, 2H), 3.92 (s, 3H).

Example 66 and 67

N-(3-((1H-tetrazol-1-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide and N-(3-((2H-tetrazol-2-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide Step A: 3-(1-Methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl chloride

A mixture of 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (520 mg, 1.93 mmol) and oxalyl chloride (1.3 mL, 14.9 mmol) in DCM (10 mL) was heated at 50° C. for 1 h. The mixture was cooled and concentrated to give the title compound.

Step B: Ethyl 5-(3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate

To a solution of 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl chloride (553 mg, 1.92 mmol) in anhydrous DCM (5 mL) was added TEA (0.538 mL, 3.85 mmol) and ethyl 5-amino-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (445 mmol, 1.92 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 15 min then concentrated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (50% to 100% EtOAc in PE) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=484 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.27 (s, 1H), 8.03 (s, 1H), 7.85 (s, 2H), 7.59-7.55 (m, 4H), 7.42 (m, 1H), 7.31 (s, 1H), 6.52 (s, 1H), 4.47-4.42 (m, 2H), 3.96 (s, 3H), 1.44-1.40 (m, 3H).

Step C: N-(3-(Hydroxymethyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

Solid LAH (96 mg, 2.56 mmol) was added portionwise to a solution of ethyl 5-(3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (620 mg, 1.28 mmol) in THF (15 mL), and the resulting mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 50 min. Excess LAH was quenched by the careful addition of water (30 mL), and the resulting aqueous mixture was extracted with EtOAc (100 mL×3). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, and then concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=442 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.56 (br s, 1H), 8.06 (s, 1H), 7.85 (q, J=8.1 Hz, 2H), 7.51-7.49 (m, 3H), 7.42-7.40 (m, 2H), 6.69 (s, 1H), 6.54 (s, 1H), 4.72 (br s, 2H), 3.97 (s, 3H).

Step D: N-(3-(Bromomethyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

A solution of CBr₄ (248 mg, 0.750 mmol) in DCM (2 mL) was added dropwise to a solution of PPh₃ (196 mg, 0.75 mmol) and N-(3-(hydroxymethyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (220 mg, 0.50 mmol) in DCM (5 mL) at 0° C. The resulting mixture was held at 0° C. for 5 min, then warmed to 25° C. and stirred for 1 h. The product mixture was partitioned between water (15 mL) and DCM (30 mL×4). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (50% EtOAc in PE) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=504/506 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.03 (s, 1H), 7.85 (s, 2H), 7.54 (d, J=4.5 Hz, 4H), 7.48-7.45 (m, 1H), 7.42 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 1H), 6.93 (s, 1H), 6.52 (s, 1H), 4.54 (s, 2H), 3.97 (m, 3H).

Step E: N-(3-((1H-Tetrazol-1-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide and N-(3-((2H-tetrazol-2-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

To a solution of N-(3-(bromomethyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (180 mg, 0.35 mmol) in MeCN (7 mL), was added Cs₂CO₃ (228 mg, 0.70 mmol) and 1H-tetrazole (29 mg, 0.42 mmol). The resulting mixture was stirred at 25° C. for 2 h then partitioned between water (30 mL) and DCM (50 mL×4). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (20% to 80% EtOAc in PE) to afford the title compounds as Peak 1 (first to elute) and Peak 2 (second to elute). Peak 1: N-(3-((2H-tetrazol-2-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide. MS: m/z=494 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.55 (s, 1H), 8.39 (s, 1H), 7.99 (s, 1H), 7.87-7.82 (m, 2H), 7.53 (d, J=4.27 Hz, 4H), 7.49-7.44 (m, 1H), 7.43 (d, J=2.26 Hz, 1H), 6.84 (s, 1H), 6.52 (s, 1H), 5.92 (s, 2H), 3.97 (s, 3H). Peak 2: N-(3-((1H-tetrazol-1-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide. MS: m/z=494 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.76 (br s, 1H), 8.53 (br s, 1H), 8.01 (br s, 1H), 7.82 (br s, 2H), 7.54-7.49 (m, 5H), 7.40 (br s, 1H), 6.83 (br s, 1H), 6.50 (br s, 1H), 5.66 (s, 2H), 3.92 (s, 3H).

Example 94

N-(3-((5-Aminopyrazin-2-yl)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

A deoxygenated mixture of N-(3-(bromomethyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (70 mg, 0.13 mmol), 5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)pyrazin-2-amine (36 mg, 0.16 mmol), 1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino) ferrocene-palladium(II)dichloride dichloromethane complex (11 mg, 0.013 mmol), and potassium carbonate (37 mg, 0.27 mmol) in dioxane (2 mL) and water (1 mL) was heated at 100° C. for 2 h. The product mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate (20 mL) and washed with brine. The organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative TLC (EtOAc) to afford the title compound. MS: m/z=537.1 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 8.13 (s, 1H), 8.01 (s, 1H), 7.96-7.81 (m, 3H), 7.64 (s, 1H), 7.52 (s, 2H), 7.21 (t, J=8.2 Hz, 2H), 6.43 (d, J=11.7 Hz, 2H), 4.04 (s, 2H), 3.94 (s, 3H).

Example 105

2-Fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

Phosphorous oxychloride (0.046 mL, 0.49 mmol) was added to a solution of 6-((5-amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl)pyridazin-3(2H)-one (70 mg, 0.24 mmol) and 2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (71 mg, 0.24 mmol) in pyridine (5 mL) at 15° C. The resulting mixture was stirred for 15 min then partitioned between water (10 mL) and EtOAc (2×10 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative reverse-phase HPLC (water/CH₃CN gradient with 0.1% TFA as a modifier) to provide the title compound. MS: m/z=556.1 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.88 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.70-7.62 (m, 2H), 7.58-7.47 (m, 3H), 7.25 (t, J=8.6 Hz, 2H), 6.92 (d, J=9.8 Hz, 1H), 6.55 (s, 1H), 6.42 (s, 1H), 4.00 (s, 2H), 3.94 (s, 3H).

Example 89

2-Fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

Phosphorous oxychloride (0.011 mL, 0.12 mmol) was added to a solution of 5-((5-amino-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2(3H)-one hydrochloride (35 mg, 0.11 mmol) and 2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (41 mg, 0.14 mmol) in pyridine (2 mL) at 20° C. The resulting mixture was stirred for 30 min then partitioned between water (2 mL) and EtOAc (3×5 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. A mixture of the residue and sodium bicarbonate (24 mg, 0.29 mmol) in THF (2 mL) was stirred at 20° C. for 1 h then partitioned between water (2 mL) and EtOAc (2×5 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by preparative reverse-phase HPLC (water/CH₃CN gradient with 0.1% TFA as a modifier) to provide the title compound. MS: m/z=560.0 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.93 (d, J=5.0 Hz, 2H), 8.11 (d, J=7.0 Hz, 1H), 7.79 (d, J=11.0 Hz, 1H), 7.61 (dd, =4.6, 8.9 Hz, 2H), 7.56 (t, J=5.0 Hz, 1H), 7.30 (t, J=8.7 Hz, 2H), 6.66 (s, 1H), 4.14 (s, 2H).

Reaction Scheme for Example 97

Example 97

2-Fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide Step A: N-(3-(((tert-Butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

Phosphorous oxychloride (0.104 mL, 1.12 mmol) was added dropwise to a solution of 3-(((tert-Butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-amine (300 mg, 0.933 mmol) and 2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (267 mg, 0.933 mmol) in pyridine (10 mL) at 0° C. The resulting mixture was stirred for 45 min and then partitioned between water (150 mL) and a 2:1 mixture of EtOAc/hexanes (2×150 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (hexanes, grading to 50% EtOAc in hexanes) to provide the title compound. MS: m/z=590.4 (M+1).

Step B: 2-Fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide

A solution of N-(3-(((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (620 mg, 1.05 mmol) and triethylamine trihydrofluoride (0.856 mL, 5.26 mmol) in acetonitrile (20 mL) was heated at 50° C. for 1 h. The product mixture was partitioned between saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution (100 mL) and EtOAc (100 mL). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (hexanes, grading to 100% EtOAc) to provide the title compound. MS: m/z=476.3 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.87 (d, J=4.9 Hz, 2H), 8.64 (d, J=15.1 Hz, 1H), 8.59 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.58 (d, J=12.2 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (m, 2H), 7.36 (t, J=4.9 Hz, 1H), 7.26 (m, 2H), 6.89 (s, 1H), 4.76 (d, J=5.6 Hz, 2H), 2.06 (m, 1H).

Example 110

(5-(2-Fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl carbamate

Trichloroacetylisocyanate (0.177 mL, 1.48 mmol) was added to a solution of 2-fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide (100 mg, 0.21 mmol) in chloroform (15 mL) at 23° C., and the resulting mixture was stirred for 1 h. Basic alumina (Brockmann activity I, 5 grams) was added and the suspension was stirred for 1 h, then filtered and washed with a solution of 20% MeOH in DCM (3×50 mL). The combined filtrate was concentrated, and the residue was partitioned between saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and EtOAc (100 mL). The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to give the title compound. MS: m/z=519.2 (M+1). ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.87 (d, J=4.9 Hz, 2H), 8.62 (d, J=15.1 Hz, 1H), 8.59 (d, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 7.56 (d, J=16.8 Hz, 1H), 7.52 (m, 2H), 7.36 (t, J=4.9 Hz, 1H), 7.26 (m, 2H), 6.95 (s, 1H), 5.18 (s, 2H), 4.68 (br s, 2H). MS: m/z=519.2 (M+1).

Biological Utility

TrkA functional activity was measured using a DiscoverX PathHunter assay. In this assay, U2OS cells express the human TrkA receptor as a fusion with the weakly complementing fragment of B-galactosidase, which DiscoverX calls “Prolink (PK)”; additionally, Shc1 is fused with a larger fragment, which is called “Enzyme Acceptor (EA)”. Activation of the TrkA receptor, upon NGF addition, results in the kinase domain being phosphorylated, resulting in subsequent recruitment of Shc1-EA protein. That recruitment results in an active B-galactosidase enzyme that is detected by addition of a chemiluminescent substrate. The human p75^(NTR) protein was also expressed as a co-receptor for NGF.

All reagents were purchased from DiscoverX, except for the receptor agonists (NGF, BDNF, NT3) which were purchased from Peprotech. Cells were expanded and frozen into cryovials, and stored in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen, and thawed immediately before use. Thawed cells were added to a 384-well plate at 7500 cells/well, and allowed to incubate overnight. Compound at various concentrations was added the following morning and allowed to incubate on cells for 1 h. Then, NGF was added at a concentration sufficient to elicit ˜80% of a maximal response and allowed to incubate for 3 h at ambient temperature. DiscoverX PathHunter detection reagent was then added and the plate was further incubated for 1 h in the dark. The plate was then read via luminescence on the Perkin Elmer Envision.

The percent inhibition was calculated for each compound concentration, and the IC₅₀ was determined using Equation 1 below.

$\begin{matrix} {{{{\% \mspace{14mu} {Inhibition}} = \left( {{Max} + \frac{\left( {{Max} - {Min}} \right)}{1 + \text{?}}} \right)}{\text{?}\text{indicates text missing or illegible when filed}}}\mspace{200mu}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 1} \end{matrix}$

IC₅₀ values from the aforementioned assay for the compounds of this invention range between 0.2 nM to 10000 nM. IC₅₀ values for particular compounds of this invention are provided below in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Compound Number TrkA IC₅₀ (nM) 1 780 2 60 3 5.4 4 48 5 0.85 6 1.7 7 32 8 2100 9 9.7 10 290 11 5.5 12 19 13 38 14 20 15 150 16 46 17 170 18 18 19 2800 20 1400 21 2.7 22 5.6 23 670 24 21 25 1.7 26 350 27 10 28 6.6 29 530 30 5.5 31 860 32 6.0 33 18 34 330 35 1700 36 0.37 37 180 38 1005 39 2.9 40 3.2 41 240 42 110 43 11 44 11 45 7.0 46 13 47 1235 48 0.82 49 5.8 50 5.7 51 2.9 52 2100 53 590 54 490 55 1.6 56 27 57 78 58 3.4 59 1.7 60 3.0 61 3.1 62 85 63 8.4 64 22 65 4.5 66 2.3 67 3.7 68 240 69 240 70 390 71 89 72 62 73 57 74 180 75 89 76 0.39 77 14 78 1.6 79 44 80 0.78 81 0.76 82 33 83 1.6 84 4.9 85 1.2 86 7.0 87 6.6 88 14 89 4.8 90 3.6 91 6.1 92 1.3 93 12 94 1.7 95 1.4 96 3.7 97 14 98 3.8 99 16 100 12 101 3.4 102 0.40 103 2.4 104 1.6 105 0.98 106 6.7 107 1.0 108 4.6 109 16 110 7.0 111 2.4 112 1.9 113 15 114 2.4

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to certain particular embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations, changes, modifications, substitutions, deletions, or additions of procedures and protocols may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended, therefore, that the invention be defined by the scope of the claims that follow and that such claims be interpreted as broadly as is reasonable. 

1. A compound of formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein B represents a five membered heteroaryl having at least one heteroatom that is nitrogen, said heteroaryl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a); R represents hydrogen, OH, or —C₁₋₆ alkyl; R¹ and R⁵ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, CN, OH, —C₁₋₆alkyl, and halogen; R² and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, (CHR)_(n)C₆₋₁₀ aryl and (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a), R³ represents hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₁₋₄ haloalkyl, —OC₁₋₄ haloalkyl, and halogen; R^(a) is selected from the group consisting of —CN, NO₂, —C₁₋₄haloalkyl, —OC₁₋₄haloalkyl, —C₁₋₆alkyl, —C₁₋₆alkenyl, —C₁₋₆alkynyl, —(CHR)_(n)C₆₋₁₀ aryl, —(CHR)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —(CHR)_(n)C(O)(CHR)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —O—(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, —O—(CH₂)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle —O—, —(CH₂)_(n)N(R^(d))₂, —(CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, SO₂R^(d), SO₂N(R^(d))₂, —C(O)CF₃, COR, —(CH₂)_(n)halo, —(CH₂)_(n)NHC(O)R^(d), —(CH₂)_(n)NHC(O)NHR^(d), —(CH₂)_(n)C(O)ON(R^(d))₂, —(CH₂)_(n)NHC(O)OR^(d), —(CHR)_(n)C(O)N(R^(d))₂, —OC₁₋₆alkyl, and —OH, said alkyl, aryl and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(b), wherein when two R^(d) groups are attached to a nitrogen atom they may optionally combine with that nitrogen to from a 4-8 membered heterocyle that is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(f), or two R^(a) groups when present on a ring can be linked together to form a 4-8 membered heterocycle that is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(f); R^(b) is selected from the group consisting of —C₁₋₆alkyl, —C₁₋₆alkylOR, —C₁₋₄haloalkyl, —(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, —(CH₂)_(n)N(R^(d))₂, —(CH₂)_(n)OR^(c), —O—, halogen, —CN, S(O)(NH)R^(g), —SO₂R, —SO₂N(R^(d))₂, —O—(CH₂)_(n)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —(CH₂)_(n)C(O)N(R^(d))₂, —(CH₂)_(n)NHC(O)R^(d), —C₁₋₆alkylN(R^(d))₂, and halo, said cycloalkyl and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(f), and wherein when two R^(d) groups are attached to a nitrogen atom they may combine with that nitrogen to from a 4-8 membered heterocyle that is optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(f); R^(c) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —C₁₋₆alkylOR^(g), —C₁₋₄haloalkyl and —C₁₋₆alkyl R^(d) is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —C₁₋₄haloalkyl —C₁₋₆alkyl, —(CH₂)_(n)NR^(f)C₄₋₁₀ heterocycle, —(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₆cycloalkyl, and —(CH₂)_(nC4-10heterocycle) said alkyl, cycloalkyl and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(f); R^(f) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —C₁₋₆alkyl, OR^(c), CN, —N(R^(c))₂, C(O)N(R^(g))₂, C(O)C₁₋₆ alkyl, —SO₂R^(g), —O—, —C₁₋₆alkylSO₂R^(g), —C₁₋₆ alkylOR^(g), —C₁₋₆alkylN(R^(g))₂, R^(g) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —C₁₋₆ alkyl; and n represents 0-6.
 2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein B is selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, tetrahydrocyclopentapyrazolyl, dihydropyrroloimidazolyl, oxo-tetrahydropyrazolopyridinyl, oxodihydropyrazolyl.
 3. The compound according to claim 2 wherein B is optionally substituted pyrazolyl.
 4. The compound according to claim 2 wherein B is optionally substituted imidazolyl.
 5. The compound according to claim 1 wherein one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, said heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a).
 6. The compound according to claim 5 wherein the optionally substituted heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is a five or six membered ring containing at least one of which is nitrogen.
 7. The compound according to claim 6 wherein the heterocycle is selected from the group consisting of oxodiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, thiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrimidinyl, and oxodihydropyridinyl, said groups optionally substituted.
 8. The compound according to claim 7 wherein the heterocycle is optionally substituted pyrazolyl.
 9. The compound according to claim 1 wherein B is represented by structural formula (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), or (l):

wherein: R⁷ represents hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C(O)C₁₋₆ alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, or C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a); and R⁸ and R⁹ independently represent hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C(O)N(R)₂, (CH₂)_(n)NH(CH₂)_(n)OR, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, C(O)R, (CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a), or R⁸ and R⁹ can form a 5-8 saturated, partially saturated, or unsaturated membered ring for (a), (f), and (k), R⁷ and R⁸ can form a 5-8 membered ring for (i) and (c), or R⁷ and R⁹ can form a 5-8 membered ring for (b).
 10. The compound according to claim 9 wherein one of R⁸ and R⁹ is selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, and C₆₋₁₀aryl and the other is selected from C₁₋₆alkyl, C(O)N(R)₂, (CH₂)_(n)NH(CH₂)_(n)OR, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, C(O)R, (CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀ aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, and (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, said alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a).
 11. The compound according to claim 10 wherein when for R⁸ and R⁹ the alkyl is optionally substituted methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl, the aryl is optionally substituted phenyl, and the heterocycle is optionally substituted pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, triazolyl, pyrimidinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, isothiazolyl, or thiazolyl.
 12. The compound according to claim 9 wherein R⁷ is selected from hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, pyrazolyl, phenyl, said methyl, ethyl, pyrazolyl and phenyl optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a).
 13. The compound according to claim 1 of formula I represented by structural formula II or III:

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is optionally substituted (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, the n in (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is 0, R³ is hydrogen, CF₃, OCF₃, CH₃, chlorine or fluorine, R⁷ is C₁₋₆alkyl, C₆₋₁₀ aryl, or C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a); and R⁸ and R⁹ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C(O)N(R)₂, (CH₂)_(n)NH(CH₂)_(n)OR, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, C(O)R, (CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, and (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a), or R⁸ and R⁹ or R⁷ and R⁸ can combine to form a 5-8 membered ring.
 14. The compound according to claim 13 wherein R⁷ is optionally substituted phenyl, or pyrazolyl, R⁸ and R⁹ are independently hydrogen, or optionally substituted methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, triazolyl, pyrimidinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, isothiazolyl, or thiazolyl and one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is C₅₋₁₀heterocycle containing at least one nitrogen atom.
 15. The compound according to claim 13 wherein one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is optionally substituted (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle selected from optionally substituted oxadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, and pyrimidinyl, the n in (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is zero, R³ is CF₃, OCF₃, CH₃, R⁷ is optionally substituted phenyl, or pyrazolyl; and R⁸ and R⁹ are independently hydrogen, or optionally substituted methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, triazolyl, pyrimidinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrazolyl, isothiazolyl, or thiazolyl.
 16. The compound according to claim 1 of formula I represented by structural formula IV:

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is optionally substituted (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, n=0, R³ is hydrogen, CF₃, OCF₃, CH₃, chlorine, or fluorine, R⁷ is C1-6alkyl, C₆₋₁₀aryl, or C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a); and R⁸ and R⁹ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₆ alkyl, C(O)N(R)₂, (CH₂)_(n)NH(CH₂)_(n)OR, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₃₋₁₀cycloalkyl, C(O)R, (CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₆₋₁₀aryl, (CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle, and (CH₂)_(n)C(O)NH(CH₂)_(n)C₅₋₁₀heterocycle, said alkyl, aryl, and heterocycle optionally substituted with 1 to 3 groups of R^(a), or R⁷ and R⁸ can combine to form a 5-8 membered ring.
 17. The compound according to claim 16 wherein one of R² and R⁴ is hydrogen and the other is optionally substituted (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle selected from optionally substituted oxadiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, and pyrimidinyl, the n in (CHR)_(n)C₅₋₁₀ heterocycle of R² and R⁴ is zero, R³ is hydrogen, CF₃, OCF₃, CH₃, chlorine or fluorine, R⁷ is optionally substituted phenyl, or pyrazolyl; and R⁸ and R⁹ are independently hydrogen, or optionally substituted methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, phenyl, pyrazolyl, tetrazolyl, pyridyl, pyridazinyl, triazolyl, pyrimidinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrazolyl, isothiazolyl, or thiazolyl.
 18. A compound which is selected from the group consisting of 2-fluoro-N-(2-methyl-4-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 5-({[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbonyl}amino)-N-cyclopropyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide, N-(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(4-methyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide 6-[5-({[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbonyl}amino)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]pyridine-3-carboxamide, N-(1″,5-dimethyl-1H,1″H-3,1′:3′,4″-terpyrazol-5′-yl)-3-(4-methyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(5′-methyl-3-pyridin-2-yl-1′H-1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl)-3-(4-methyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N,N,5′-trimethyl-5-({[3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbonyl}amino)-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazole-3-carboxamide, N-(1″,5-dimethyl-1H,1″H-3,1′:3′,4″-terpyrazol-5′-yl)-3-pyridin-3-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[1-(3,4-difluorophenyl)-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-chloro-N-[3-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-[3-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(1-methyl-4-phenyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(2-methyl-4-phenyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(1,2-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[3-(4-methyl-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(4-phenylisoxazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(4-phenyl-1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(1-methyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 4-chloro-3-(4-methyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-N-(1-phenyl-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzamide, N-{5′-methyl-3-[2-oxo-2-(pyridin-2-ylamino)ethyl]-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl}-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3,5-dichloro-4-methyl-N-(1-phenyl-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzamide, N-(1-phenyl-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(isothiazol-5-ylmethyl)-5′-methyl-5-({[3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbonyl}amino)-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazole-3-carboxamide, N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 5′-methyl-N-(1-methylazetidin-3-yl)-5-({[3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbonyl}amino)-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazole-3-carboxamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-{3-[(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)methyl]-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl}-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(5-methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(3-methylpyridin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(2-methyl-4-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(1-acetyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(4-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-pyridin-3-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(1-phenyl-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(5-phenylisoxazol-4-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(5-oxo-2-phenyl-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-chloro-N-(1-phenyl-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 4-chloro-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-[3-pyridin-4-yl-5′-(trifluoromethyl)-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl]benzamide, 4-chloro-3-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-[3-pyridin-4-yl-5′-(trifluoromethyl)-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl]benzamide, 4-chloro-N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)benzamide, N-(1-methyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(1′,4-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1H,1′H-3,4′-bipyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(4-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-chloro-N-(4-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-pyridin-4-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridin-4-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-chloro-N-(3,5′-dimethyl-1′H-1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 1-methyl-5-({[3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbonyl}amino)-4-phenyl-1H-imidazole-2-carboxamide, N-[3-(hydroxymethyl)-5′-methyl-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(1,2-dimethyl-4-pyridin-4-yl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[1,2-dimethyl-4-(2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-chloro-N-(3,5′-dimethyl-1′H-1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)benzamide, 2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-[3-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[3-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-pyrimidin-2-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[5′-methyl-3-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1′H-1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl]-3-pyrimidin-2-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-{3-[(2-methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl]-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl}-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-{3-[(1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl]-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl}-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-pyrimidin-2-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(4-methyl-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)-N-(5-methyl-1H,1″H-3,1′:3′,4″-terpyrazol-5′-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-(5-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-5-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide N-(1,2-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-2-fluoro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-pyrimidin-2-yl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-5-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-(1-methyl-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-[1-phenyl-3-(1H-tetrazol-1-ylmethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-[1-phenyl-3-(2H-tetrazol-2-ylmethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(3-{[(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]methyl}-5′-methyl-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-[5′-methyl-3-(pyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl)-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazol-5-yl]-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[3-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-[1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl]-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-[3-(6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzamide, N-(2-methyl-5-phenyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzamide, N-(1,5′-dimethyl-1H,2′H-3,3′-bipyrazol-4-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide 3-(1-ethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 5-({[2-fluoro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]carbonyl}amino)-5′-methyl-N-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-2′H-1,3′-bipyrazole-3-carboxamide, N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-{[2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2H-tetrazol-5-yl]methyl}-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-({2-[2-(methylamino)-2-oxoethyl]-2H-tetrazol-5-yl}methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(2-phenyl-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]imidazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-chloro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(3-((1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[3-(4-carbamoylphenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-2-fluoro-5-pyrimidin-2-yl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-2,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-3-yl]-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 5′-methyl-5-(3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-N-(pyrimidin-5-ylmethyl)-2′H-[1,3′-bipyrazole]-3-carboxamide, 2-(5-(2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyrimidine-4-carboxamide, 2-fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((2-methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 5-(2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide, N-(3-((1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(3-(azetidine-1-carbonyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(3-((2-aminopyrimidin-5-yl)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(3-((5-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(3-((5-aminopyrazin-2-yl)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(pyrimidin-5-ylmethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(3-((1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridin-3-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-3-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, (S or R)-2-fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, (S or R)-2-fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(5-(1-hydroxyethyl)pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(3-(3-(aminomethyl)phenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-((6-oxo-1,6-dihydropyridazin-3-yl)methyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-(2-(1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-4-phenylthiazol-5-yl)-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, (S or R)-2-fluoro-N-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(5-(1-hydroxyethyl)pyrimidin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-N-(6-oxo-2-phenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, 2-fluoro-N-(1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, (5-(2-fluoro-5-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamido)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)methyl carbamate, N-(3-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2-fluoro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, N-(3-((2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-1-yl)methyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2-fluoro-5-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 19. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 20. (canceled)
 21. (canceled)
 22. A method of treating a disease or disorder mediated by the TrK receptors, wherein said disease or disorder is selected from the group consisting of pain, inflammation, cancer, restenosis, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, thrombosis, a disease, disorder, injury, or malfunction relating to dysmyelination or demyelination or a disease or disorder associated with abnormal activities of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor TrkA. in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 